A proposed plan to interlink the Bedti and Varada rivers in Karnataka has sparked controversy, with environmental groups labelling it as unscientific and a misuse of public funds. The rivers hold great prominence in the region, making them central to various discussions and projects.
The Bedti-Varada Project: An Overview
Conceived in 1992, the Bedti-Varada project intended to provide an efficient drinking water supply. It outlines a plan to connect the Bedti river, which flows west into the Arabian Sea, with the Varada river, a tributary of the Tungabhadra River flowing into the Krishna that ultimately meets the Bay of Bengal.
The project would require the construction of two significant dams. The first dam is proposed for Hirevadatti in Gadag district, while the second will be built on the Pattanahalla river at Menasagoda in Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district. These dams will direct water towards the Varada through tunnels to reach the location of Kengre and subsequently to Hakkalumane, where it combines with the Varada.
The project’s primary aim is to transfer water from the water-rich Sirsi-Yellapura region in Uttara Kannada district to the drought-prone districts of Raichur, Gadag, and Koppal. If this plan were to materialise, it would involve transporting 302 million cubic metres of water from Pattanahalla and Shalmalahalla tributaries of the Bedti and Varada rivers. Of this, 222 million cubic metres of water would be drawn from the barrage located at Suremane along the Bedti river. Despite these efforts, it is uncertain whether the water would successfully reach Gadag.
Concerns Associated with the Bedti-Varada Project
Various issues complicate the implementation of the Bedti-Varada project. Firstly, redirecting a westward-flowing river to flow eastward poses significant logistical challenges. Additionally, both the Bedti and Varada rivers begin drying up early in the summer. It is problematic that, despite knowledge of this, the government continues to plan to interlink these rivers under the guise of providing drinking water.
Critics argue that the Detailed Project Report (DPR), prepared by the irrigation department, lacks accuracy due to lack of proper assessment of water availability. They also point out that the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) had no input in its creation.
Furthermore, the project will have an adverse environmental impact, with the potential loss of over 500 acres of forest. The Bedti valley, declared an active biodiversity zone by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, houses 1,741 types of flowering plants and 420 species of birds and animals. The project could disrupt these ecosystems, especially the fish populations sustained by the nutrients carried along the river.
For thousands of farmers in the Malenadu region and fishing communities along the coast, the Bedti and Varada rivers are lifelines. Their livelihoods may be jeopardised if the project proceeds.
Way Forward
While interlinking of rivers can bring benefits, its disadvantages cannot be overlooked, considering its economic, political, and environmental implications. A more decentralised approach to river interlinking could be more beneficial, along with promotion of sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting to mitigate floods and droughts.
In the 2016 UPSC Civil Services Examination, a question was asked about a similar river interlinking project. The correct answer indicated that the Godavari and Krishna rivers were interconnected in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district under the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Project.
