The Karnataka government submitted a revised proposal to the National Wildlife Board (NWD) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFC) for the Kalasa-Banduri project and is awaiting clearance from the Centre for permission to divert 26.92 hectares of forest land for non-forest purposes.

The Kalasa-Banduri project seeks to redirect water from Mahadayi River to meet the drinking water requirements of the Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts in Karnataka.

The project intends to build barrages on Kalasa and Banduri streams, tributaries of Mahadayi, and divert water towards Karnataka’s parched districts.

On 29 March 2023, the Government of Karnataka had floated tenders for implementing the Kalasa Banduri scheme, which is open for bidding till 21 August 2023. The value of the tender for Banduri Nala is Rs 542 crore, and for Kalasa is Rs 412 crore.