Central Ministry removes Mahadayi basin works from online queue of pending projects

Belagavi The Union government has removed the Banduri Nala diversion project in the Mahadayi river basin from the list of pending clearances from the website of the Forest Ministry. This is believed to be due to Karnataka government’s delay in submitting responses to some queries raised by the Central team about the project. The project was removed from the online queue of pending proposals on the PARIVESH portal of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited (KNNL) had applied for clearance to divert 71 acres of forest land for construction of pipelines, a pumphouse and powerlines in Nerse, Manturga and Bacholi villages and surrounding areas in Khanapur of Belagavi district. Farmers, who received notices, held a meeting in Khanapur and opposed the land acquisition proposal in April 2025. The Ministry officials conducted two field visits and issued a notice to the Congress government in the State in July 2026.

But this notice did not receive an appropriate response on time.