Adopting the same route attempted in the case of the Yettinahole river diversion project, Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. (KNNL), which is executing the Kalasa-Banduri project worth nearly ₹850 crore, has claimed that the drinking water project is out of the purview of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA). “The Kalasa-Banduri Drinking Water Supply Scheme doesn’t envisage creating a new command area or providing water to suffering existing command areas for irrigation. The claim was challenged by activists, and eventually the National Green Tribunal ordered KNNL to prepare EIA and Social Impact Assessment reports before going ahead with the project. In the case of the Kalasa-Banduri project, nearly 4 sq.km of forestland is expected to be submerged by the three dams to be constructed across the Haltara, Kalasa and Banduri streams of Mahadayi river. Naik, executive engineer, KNNL (Kalasa-Banduri).

Source: The Hindu May 06, 2019 18:56 UTC