← 11 October 2026's Current Affairs · Karnataka KPSC Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
Protesters demand scrapping of Bedti-Aghanashini project
Why in News?
Which Karnataka river meets the Arabian Sea near Kumta? The Aghanashini row KPSC geography tests
Protesters have demanded that the Bedti-Aghanashini project in Uttara Kannada be scrapped.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type; Karnataka-specific
What you need to know
2 min read
Protesters have demanded that the Bedti-Aghanashini project in Uttara Kannada be scrapped.
The Aghanashini and Bedti rivers drain the Western Ghats of the district into the Arabian Sea and support rich forest and estuarine ecosystems.
Activists argue that river projects in the Ghats threaten biodiversity and livelihoods.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- The Bedti-Aghanashini project in Uttara Kannada faces protests, with demands that it be scrapped.
- The Aghanashini rises in the Western Ghats of Uttara Kannada and enters the Arabian Sea near Kumta.
- The Aghanashini and Bedti rivers drain the district's Western Ghats westward into the Arabian Sea.
- These rivers support rich forest and estuarine ecosystems.
- Activists argue river projects in the Ghats threaten biodiversity and livelihoods.
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- West-flowing rivers of Karnataka such as the Aghanashini and Bedti originate in the Western Ghats and drain directly into the Arabian Sea.
- The Aghanashini enters the Arabian Sea near Kumta in Uttara Kannada district.
- Estuaries like that of the Aghanashini are ecologically rich zones where river and sea water mix, supporting fisheries and mangroves.
Mains
GS-III (environment, infrastructure) and Karnataka-specific GS. Issue: a river-linking or diversion project in the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats draws local protest over biodiversity and livelihood loss. Provision/policy: environmental impact assessment, Western Ghats ecology recommendations and community consultation. Implication: development needs versus ecosystem and estuarine fisheries; way forward: transparent EIA, public hearings and exploring less intrusive water-management options.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
The Aghanashini river, at the centre of the Bedti-Aghanashini project row, drains mainly through which Karnataka district before entering the Arabian Sea?
- Shivamogga
- Udupi
- Uttara Kannada
- Dakshina Kannada
Show answer
Answer: C — Correct: Uttara Kannada — The Aghanashini rises in the Western Ghats of Uttara Kannada and enters the Arabian Sea near Kumta in the same district. • Shivamogga — wrong: Shivamogga is drained mainly by the Sharavathi and Tunga-Bhadra systems, not the Aghanashini. • Udupi — wrong: Udupi's major rivers include the Swarna and Sita, not the Aghanashini. • Dakshina Kannada — wrong: Dakshina Kannada's rivers include the Netravati and Gurupura, not the Aghanashini.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ