Karnataka govt pushes for eco-clearance to take up Mekedatu project

BENGALURU: In what appears to be a strategy to counter the Congress padayatra ahead of the 2023 assembly polls, the BJP government is reportedly preparing the ground for implementation of the controversial Mekedatu reservoir project.
The government has identified 7,404 hectares of the compensatory afforestation (CA) land in three districts to be given in the ratio of 1:3 for the 5,096 hectares of forest land that is expected to be submerged due to the construction of the reservoir.
According to water resources minister Govind Karjol, the CA land is spread across three districts of Ramanagara, Mandya and Chamrajanagara, and the state is awaiting to secure the terms of reference (TOR) from the Union ministry of environment and forests.
“Of the 5, 257 hectares which will be required for the project, only 160 hectares is private land which needs to be compensated for in monetary terms,” he added.
Medha Patkar to join greens’ protest
Social activist and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar, with the support of environmentalists and social organisations, is planning to launch an agitation against the project stating that it would result in submergence of 5,000 hectares of forest and displacement of thousands of tribals in the surrounding areas. The state government is also awaiting the outcome of the January 25 Supreme Court hearing of a plea related to the project.
The Tamil Nadu government had filed several pleas, including the one for a direction to the Central Water Commission to reject and return the detailed project report filed by Karnataka on January 18, 2019. According to government sources, the BJP is trying to push for the project clearance and lay the foundation stone before the assembly polls next year as it will help consolidate its voter share in south Karnataka.