Panaji/Keri, Feb 5 (TOI): Most villagers in Karnataka's Mhadei river basin have been opposing its damming and diversion projects for over two decades, as the plans are likely to cause irreversible damage to the environment and large-scale displacement and loss of livelihood.
With Sattari on its west, the Mhadei basin covers the north-western parts of Karnataka between Kankumbi near Goa-Maharashtra border and towards Anmod Ghat in the south on Goa's border. The 200 sqkm basin in this region is part of the water resource-rich areas of the global biodiversity hotspot of the Sahyadris.

While Goa and Karnataka are involved, the opposition to the diversion projects across the border began as early as 1998. The residents got wind of the government's plans to tap the large hydropower potential of Mhadei river through construction of three dams on the main river, four diversion dams on its tributaries and other proposals.

Former MLA of Khanapur, late V Y Chavan supported by the residents spearheaded the resistance, stating with a series of memoranda to authorities protesting the government's non-transparent pursuance of the environmentally-damaging projects.