In a decisive step towards implementing the long-delayed Mahadayi river project, the Karnataka government has issued a land acquisition notification, signaling its determination to proceed.
The notification, issued on July 23 by the Revenue Department, covers nine acres and 27 guntas of land in villages including Asoga, Karambal, Shedagali, and Rumewadi in Khanapur taluk, Belagavi district. The project, aimed at providing drinking water and irrigation to 13 towns and hundreds of villages in Kittur Karnataka, has been a long-standing demand, particularly for residents of Hubballi-Dharwad.
Although the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018 allocated 13.42 TMC of water to Karnataka and the detailed project report (DPR) was approved, implementation has stalled due to Goa’s objections and pending environmental and wildlife clearances from the Centre. By initiating acquisition, the government has asserted political will, urging Union Ministers to expedite approvals. The move leads to hopes that final permissions will finally unlock the project’s long-awaited benefits for north Karnataka.