UNESCO has expressed concern over the Aghanashini-Vedavathi river linking project and its likely effect on the Western Ghats ecosystem. The project proposes to divert about 35 TMC ft of water from the Aghanashini River to the Vedavathi River. UNESCO stated that such projects must comply with the World Heritage Convention, 1972, which governs protection of natural heritage sites. The Western Ghats are a biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.