The Centre's delay in taking a final decision on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala water project has forced Karnataka to go ahead with it, with or without central nod. The state will start work on the project on October 2. However, political observers feel the Centre should immediately intervene in the matter to avoid unnecessary tension in the Karnataka-Goa border region. Karnataka had designed the project in 2000 to divert 7.56 tmc of water from Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of Mahadayi river to Malaprabha reservoir to meet drinking water needs in northern Karnataka.