Lok Sabha Question No. 1781 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Status of Kalasa-Bhandura Drinking Water Scheme
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Jagadish Shettar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI DEPARTMENT OF DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1781

ANSWERED ON -05/12/2024

## STATUS OF KALASA-BHANDURA DRINKING WATER SCHEME

## 1781. SHRI JAGDISH SHETTAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to State:

(a)  the  current  status  of  implementation  of  the  Kalasa-Bhandura  Drinking  Water  Scheme envisaging the allocation of 3.90 TMC of water for diversion Mahadayi Basin to Malaprabha River for drinking water supply to the cities of Hubli-Dharwar and Kundgol town and several villages en-route it in Karnataka;

(b)  whether  any  clearances  is  awaiting  for  approval  from  other  Central  Ministries;  and (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI (SHRI V. SOMANNA)

(a) to (c) Since August 2019, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)-Har Ghar Jal to enable every rural household in the country, to have assured potable  water  through  tap  connection.  Drinking  water  is  a  State  subject,  and  hence,  the responsibility  of  planning,  approval,  implementation,  operation,  and  maintenance  of  drinking water  supply  schemes,  including  those  under  the  Jal  Jeevan  Mission,  lies  with  the  respective State/UT Governments. The Government of India supports the States by providing technical and financial assistance. As such details of individual projects/ schemes for rural water supply are not maintained at Government of India level.

As informed  by  the  State  Govt.  of  Karnataka,  the  present  status  of  implementation  of 'Kalasa -Bhandura Drinking Water Scheme" is annexed.

Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has informed that DPR of Kalasa Scheme and Bhandura Scheme were submitted on 23.11.2022 and 28.11.2022 respectively to Central Water Commission (CWC). Based on the technical appraisal by CWC, DPRs of both the schemes are found acceptable from Hydrology and inter-state aspects, subject to strict compliance of mandatory clearances as required by law.

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## Annex  referred  in  the  reply  to  Lok  Sabha  Unstarred  Question  No.  1781  answered  on 05.12.2024

## Present status of Implementation of Kalasa -Bhandura Drinking Water Scheme"

1. The "MAHADAYI WATER DISPUTES TRIBUNAL" (MWDT) has pronounced the award on 14.08.2018 and gazetted on 27.02.2020. The Tribunal allocated 3.90 TMC of water for diversion from Mahadayi Basin to Malaprabha River for drinking water purpose of HubliDharwad twin cities, Kundagol Town and enroute villages, comprising of 1.72 TMC from Kalasa Nala and 2.18 TMC from Bhandura Nala.
2. The Central Water Commission (CWC) vide Office Memorandum Dtd: 29.12.2022 accorded clearance  to  the  Modified  Detailed  Project  Reports  (DPRs)  of  Kalasa  &  Bhandura  Nala Diversion Schemes (Lift Schemes), subject to obtaining all mandatory clearances as required by law.
3. The  Ministry  of  Jal  Shakti  has  framed  a  Scheme  to  constitute  Mahadayi  PRAWAH (Progressive  River  Authority  for  Welfare  and  Harmony)  vide  gazette  notification  dated 22.05.2023 to give effect to the decision of the   Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal.
4. Present Status of Forest/ Wildlife clearances from MoEF & CC is as   under:

## (a) Kalasa Nala Diversion Scheme (Lift Scheme):

- i. Upon submission of forest clearance proposal of Kalasa Nala  Diversion project to MOEF & CC through PARIVESH Portal, which involves diversion of 26.925 Ha of forest land, the Regional Empowered Committee, IRO, MOEF & CC, Bangalore had directed  the State of Karnataka vide dated 20.01.2023 to apply for Wildlife clearance from Standing Committee for National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), New Delhi for the Tiger Corridor passing through  Kalasa Project which is about 10.685 Ha (out of 26.925 Ha of forest land).
- ii. Further  the  wildlife  clearance  proposal  was  submitted  through  PARIVESH  portal  on 31.05.2023. The Kalasa Wildlife clearance  proposal was approved by the State Board for Wildlife with recommendation to NBWL seeking approval for the same.
- iii. In turn, NBWL referred the proposal to National Tiger Corridor Authority (NTCA) and a team was constituted on 29.11.2023 by NTCA to Cause Site appraisal. The team from NTCA conducted the Cause Site appraisal of the proposed Kalasa Project on 08.01.2024 and submitted the report to NTCA on 23.01.2024 with a recommendation in favour of Karnataka which is as under:

"Considering  the  larger  benefits  associated  with  the  project  (such  as  water availability  to  wildlife  during  summer  period  and  ground  water  recharge),  the Committee  is  of  the  opinion that  implementation  of  the project  may  be recommended under Section 380(1)(g) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972."

But, NTCA has mentioned that the matter is subjudice as currently the matter is pending before the Hon'ble Supreme Court and therefore not provided any comment in the matter as such.

- iv. In 77 th  meeting of SC-NBWL held on 30.01.2024, the Standing Committee decided that the comments on the proposal shall be sought from the NTCA in accordance with Section 38-O(1)(g) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Accordingly, the proposal was deferred for the next meeting and the proposal was also deferred during the SC NBWL meeting held on 31.072024.
- v. Further, during 80th meeting of SC-NBWL held on 09.10.2024, the standing committee has instructed to submit the additional documents with current status of legal cases related to project. The required documents were submitted by Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, and Environment Department Karnataka to ADG (Wildlife), Member Secretary NBWL, New Delhi vide letter dated: 10.10.2024 and 15.10.2024.

## (b) Bhandura Nala Diversion Scheme (Lift Scheme):

- i. The  Forest  Clearance  proposal  for  Bhandura  Nala  Diversion  project  was  submitted  to MOEF & CC through PARIVESH Portal, which involves diversion of 28.4427 Ha of forest land as per the direction of the Regional Empowered Committee, IRO, MOEF & CC, Bangalore.
- ii. The Regional Empowered Committee, IRO, MOEF & CC, Bangalore has sought certain information  through  PARIVESH  portal  (EDS-Queries)  dated:  25.08.2024.  Further  the information/ compliance for EDS-Queries was submitted through PARIVESH portal to MOEF & CC on 26.11.2024.