Greens vow legal, political battle against Mahadayi

WHILE the Karnataka government is attempting to launch the Kalasa-Banduri project in haste, even before the Centre's green signal, environmental activists in the state and Goa have vowed to continue their struggle to put the brakes on it.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Belagavi

Stepping up efforts to protect the ecologically sensitive Mahadayi basin, several prominent environmentalists, farmers, religious leaders and social activists held a public meeting in Khanapur on Wednesday to oppose the Karnataka government's proposed land acquisition for the Bhandura water diversion project. The plan involves installing an underground pipeline in the Mahadayi basin, which critics say will have devastating ecological consequences.

The event, organised under the banner 'Save Mhadei, Save Malaprabha, Save Khanapur Taluka, Save Rains', saw many environmental leaders and activists terming the project as a serious threat to water security, forest cover and livelihood across Belagavi, Goa and parts of North Karnataka.