Lok Sabha Question No. 2038 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Kalasa-Bhandura Drinking Water Supply Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Jagadish Shettar

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. - 2038 ANSWERED ON 11/12/2025

## KALASA-BHANDURA DRINKING WATER SUPPLY PROJECT

2038.  SHRI JAGADISH SHETTAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)  the  current  status  of  implementation  of  the  Kalasa-Bhandura  Drinking  Water  Supply Project which envisages allocation of 3.90 TMC of water for diversion from the Mahadayi Basin to the Malaprabha River for drinking water supply to the cities of Hubli-Dharwad and Kundgol town and adjoining villages en-route in Karnataka;

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

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)

(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 Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, the status of implementation of 'Kalasa -Bhandura Drinking Water Scheme" is annexed .

The details of pending clearances from other Ministries/Departments are not available with CWC.

*****

## Annexure Annexure referred in the reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2038 answered on 11.12.2025

'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 Hubli-Dharwad 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 31.07.2024.
- 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.