The Karnataka government has directed deputy commissioners of several districts to identify 12,600 acres of land for afforestation to compensate for the forest area that will be submerged by the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. The project, proposed across the Cauvery river, is expected to submerge vast tracts of forest land, necessitating compensatory afforestation as per environmental regulations.
Government Order Issued
According to an official order issued by the Revenue Department, deputy commissioners of Ramanagara, Chamarajanagar, Mandya, and Mysuru districts have been tasked with identifying suitable land parcels. The identified land must be contiguous and free from encroachments, with a preference for degraded forest areas or government wasteland.
Afforestation Targets
The state government has set a target of 12,600 acres for compensatory afforestation. This includes 10,000 acres for the submergence area and an additional 2,600 acres for catchment area treatment. The forest department will carry out the actual plantation, focusing on native species to ensure ecological balance.
Officials have been given a timeline of three months to complete the land identification process. The move comes after the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted Stage-I forest clearance for the project in March 2026, subject to compliance with afforestation conditions.
Project Background
The Mekedatu project, estimated to cost around ₹9,000 crore, aims to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas, besides generating hydroelectric power. However, environmentalists and farmers have raised concerns about the impact on forest ecosystems and downstream water availability.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has assured that all environmental safeguards will be followed. The project is expected to be completed by 2030, pending final approvals from the central government.
