News Excerpt:

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has deferred the decision on diverting forest land from the Kali and Sahyadri Tiger Reserves for the construction of a part of the Karnataka Government's Kalasa Nala Water Diversion Scheme.

More details on the news:

• The Kalasa-Banduri Project of the Karnataka government proposes to divert Mahadayi river water into the Malaprabha river in the state to enhance drinking water supply to certain districts.
• The proposal was for the use of around 11 hectares of forest land situated on the tiger corridor between Kali and Sahyadri tiger reserves. 
• This is supposed to be for the construction of a diversion weir, jack well-cum-pump house, electrical substation, pipeline and power line at Kankumbi and other villages.
• This is part of the State government’s project for the construction of Kalasa Nala Diversion Scheme in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district.
• The proposal has been recommended by the Chief Wildlife Warden, the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife and the State government. 
• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has mentioned that the matter is sub judice and therefore not provided any comment on it as such. 
• The NBWL’s standing committee cited multiple reasons such as the matter pending before courts and non-receipt of approval from the NTCA as the reasons for the postponement of the decision. 

Background: Kalasa-Banduri Project and Mahadayi River Dispute:

• The Kalasa-Banduri Project, initiated by the Karnataka government, aims to divert water from the Mahadayi river into the Malaprabha river within the state. 
• This project is intended to enhance drinking water supply to several districts in Karnataka, including Dharwad, Belagavi, Bagalkote, and Gadag.
• The Mahadayi river originates in Karnataka and flows through Goa before merging with the Arabian Sea. Known as Mandovi in Goa, it is one of the two major rivers of the western state. 
• The diversion of Mahadayi water has been a contentious issue between Karnataka and Goa, with the latter expressing concerns about the potential impact on its flora and fauna.