Successive governments in Karnataka have failed to speed up work on pending irrigation projects in the Krishna and Cauvery basins, according to Mohan Kataraki, senior advocate in the Supreme Court.

“The State Government should take up immediate steps to release money and speed up the work in both regions. Failure to do so, may be seen by other riparian States as forfeiting the right over the allotted quantum of water,” he said in a discussion with leaders of Kannada organisations in Belagavi.

“The judgments of various courts and tribunals have allotted around 170 tmcft of water to the Krishna basin and 50-60 tmcft of additional water to the Cauvery basin projects. However, we have not been able to utilise this allocation by preparing suitable projects and investment. It is estimated that around ₹1 lakh crore will be required to complete the Upper Krishna Project, and around ₹1 lakh crore for the Cauvery basin projects. However, the governments of various parties over the decades have not been spending the requisite amount of money on these projects. The total allocation to the department of irrigation is around ₹20,000 crore to ₹30,000 crore per year, while the annual budget is around ₹4 lakh crore. We need to spend at least double the amount of money spent on these major irrigation projects in the next few years,” he argued.

He said that there needs to be a balance between providing drinking water to the drier parts of northern Karnataka and environment conservation. “We cannot forego environmental concerns while executing projects that provide water to the people or for agriculture needs. All relevant factors need to be taken into consideration before designing such projects,” he said.

Mr. Kataraki said that the Mahadayi basin projects were stuck over delay in Karnataka obtaining environmental clearances from various Central agencies and ministries. He said that the Union Government had taken cognisance of an order issued by the Chief Wild Life Warden of Goa to the Karnataka government asking them not to divert water reaching wildlife sanctuaries in Goa. “This order was patently illegal, as he has no jurisdiction over Karnataka. But the order has been taken seriously, and we are unable to move forward,” he said.

He argued for a dialogue between opposing views on Mahadayi — one rooted in environmental concerns, and another in irrigation and drinking water needs — to be able to move forward.

There was opposition to the Harangi dam in Kodagu district from environmentalists. Then, an informal ‘Thus far, no further’ agreement was reached between the people of Kodagu district and the Karnataka government. No other dam project was planned there, he said.