Report probes ecological risks in Karnataka’s proposed Mahadayi river diversion project

By Jag Jivan

A detailed independent study titled “Bhandura Nala (Mahadayi Diversion)”, prepared by a group of committed environmentalists from and , has strongly questioned the ecological and social viability of Karnataka government’s ambitious plan to divert water from the (locally known as ) through the .

The report, which has been widely circulated among civil society organisations and policymakers, warns of irreversible damage to the fragile and raises the spectre of large-scale in the region if such high-impact linear projects are allowed without rigorous scrutiny.

Renowned power and climate policy analyst , while forwarding the report to concerned citizens and organisations, described it as “a comprehensive and credible critique of the project proposal” that also discusses multiple viable alternatives to meet Karnataka’s stated water needs without resorting to ecologically destructive diversion.

In his strongly worded appeal, Sharma stated:

“This analysis provides a credible set of points to seriously ponder over for the entire society in view of the potential threats, such as desertification of the lands in and around the Western Ghats.”

He further highlighted the broader implications for peninsular India, noting that the Western Ghats are officially recognised by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EF&CC) as “the ”, being the origin of 37 east-flowing rivers and 3 major west-flowing rivers.

The Mahadayi diversion has remained a flashpoint between Karnataka and Goa for over two decades, with Goa consistently opposing any diversion on the grounds that it would devastate the biodiversity-rich and downstream ecosystems. The new independent report strengthens Goa’s position by documenting technical flaws, inadequate , and feasible non-diversion alternatives that Karnataka has allegedly ignored.

Sharma warned that the Bhandura Nala project is only one among nearly 50 high-impact linear projects already identified in Karnataka alone that cut through the Western Ghats, with dozens more planned or under implementation in , , and Goa. He termed the cumulative assault a “very serious issue for the entire peninsular India” and urged civil society organisations (CSOs) across the region to break their silence.

“The people of peninsular India, especially the concerned CSOs, cannot afford to be indifferent/silent on this specific project as well as other high impact project proposals in the Western Ghats,” Sharma wrote.

“Let us do all that is feasible to effectively address the associated threats/costs to the larger society.”

Environmentalists associated with the report argue that diversion projects in the Western Ghats not only threaten endemic flora and fauna but also jeopardise the hydrological stability of the entire peninsula by disrupting the delicate rainfall catchment and recharge functions of this global biodiversity hotspot.

As the decades-old Mahadayi water dispute awaits final adjudication before the -appointed tribunal, the release of this independent technical critique is likely to intensify public and legal scrutiny of Karnataka’s diversion plans and reignite demands for a cumulative impact assessment of all linear projects in the Western Ghats.

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Covishield controversy: How India ignored a warning voice during the pandemic

Dr Amitav Banerjee, MD * It is a matter of pride for us that a person of Indian origin, presently Director of National Institute of Health, USA, is poised to take over one of the most powerful roles in public health. Professor Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian origin physician and a health economist, from Stanford University, USA, will be assuming the appointment of acting head of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Bhattacharya would be leading two apex institutions in the field of public health which not only shape American health policies but act as bellwether globally.

Growth without justice: The politics of wealth and the economics of hunger

By Vikas Meshram* In modern history, few periods have displayed such a grotesque and contradictory picture of wealth as the present. On one side, a handful of individuals accumulate in a single year more wealth than the annual income of entire nations. On the other, nearly every fourth person in the world goes to bed hungry or half-fed.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Thali, COVID and academic credibility: All about the 2020 'pseudoscientific' Galgotias paper

By Jag Jivan The first page image of the paper "Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis" published in the Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs , Vol. 2, Issue 2 (2020), has gone viral on social media in the wake of the controversy surrounding a Chinese robot presented by the Galgotias University as its original product at the just-concluded AI summit in Delhi . The resurfacing of the 2020 publication, authored by Dharmendra Kumar , Galgotias University, has reignited debate over academic standards and scientific credibility.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

'Serious violation of international law': US pressure on Mexico to stop oil shipments to Cuba

By Vijay Prashad In January 2026, US President Donald Trump declared Cuba to be an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to US security—a designation that allows the United States government to use sweeping economic restrictions traditionally reserved for national security adversaries. The US blockade against Cuba began in the 1960s, right after the Cuban Revolution of 1959 but has tightened over the years. Without any mandate from the United Nations Security Council—which permits sanctions under strict conditions—the United States has operated an illegal, unilateral blockade that tries to force countries from around the world to stop doing basic commerce with Cuba. The new restrictions focus on oil. The United States government has threatened tariffs and sanctions on any country that sells or transports oil to Cuba.

When a lake becomes real estate: The mismanagement of Hyderabad’s waterbodies

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava* Misunderstood, misinterpreted and misguided governance and management of urban lakes in India —illustrated here through Hyderabad —demands urgent attention from Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the political establishment, the judiciary, the builder–developer lobby, and most importantly, the citizens of Hyderabad. Fundamental misconceptions about urban lakes have shaped policies and practices that systematically misuse, abuse and ultimately erase them—often in the name of urban development.

When grief becomes grace: Kerala's quiet revolution in organ donation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Kerala is an important model for understanding India's diversity precisely because the religious and cultural plurality it has witnessed over centuries brought together traditions and good practices from across the world. Kerala had India's first communist government, was the first state where a duly elected government was dismissed, and remains the first state to achieve near-total literacy. It is also a land where Christianity and Islam took root before they spread to Europe and other parts of the world. Kerala has deep historic rationalist and secular traditions.

Search This Blog