The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal has rejected the Goa government's plea to stop work on the Kalasa-Banduri Project. It has ordered Karnataka to plug the vents so as to avoid the automatic flow of flood water from Mahadayi to Malaprabha, thus satisfying both parties. The Kalasa-Banduri Project, proposed by the Karnataka government, aims to divert the water from Kalasa nala and Banduri nala in Mahadayi basin to the Malaprabha river for meeting the drinking water requirement of Hubli-Dharwad.
The Tamil Nadu government has sought the Supreme Court's directions to stop Karnataka from carrying out modernisation work in the Cauvery Basin as it is against the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. The Karnataka government has proposed various schemes, worth Rs. 330 crore, to impound the flows in its tanks in the name of drinking water supply to villages, claims Tamil Nadu.
Considering the drinking water woes of Dwarka residents in Delhi, the High Court has directed the Central Government to resolve the Delhi-Haryana conflict over the quantum of water to be released through the Munak Canal. The reason behind the non-availability of drinking water to Delhi residents is Haryana's delay in supplying 80 million gallons per day of water through the canal, which has made water treatment plants at Dwarka, Bawana and Okhla non-functional, says Delhi Jal Board.
The Central Government is all set to expand the country's farmland under irrigation by one-tenth in the next three years, according to a top official to Reuters. The move will help reduce the dependence of Indian agriculture on the annual monsoons and will enhance grain output and exports, which will also lead to a rise in rural income.
The Delhi High Court has summoned the city Chief Secretary for not submitting the report on water contamination and not making the Najafgarh drain pollution-free, thus putting the health of people at risk and contaminating the Yamuna river. The court has also shown displeaure at the behaviour of the Delhi Government and the Delhi Jal Board for delaying filing the status report on the issues sought by it.
This is a weekly roundup of policy matters from April 13-20, 2014. Also read last week's news roundup.