0.2111
7667766266
x

Mahadayi River Dispute

iasparliament Logo
January 04, 2023

Why in news?

Karnataka’s decision to go ahead with the Kalasa Banduri Nala water diversion project on river Mahadayi has escalated its long-standing water dispute with its neighbor Goa.

What is the story behind?

  • Karnataka had received clearance from the Centre for two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala on the Mahadayi.
  • The state government has decided to go ahead with the project, after securing a go-ahead from the Central Water Commission (CWC).
  • But, a clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) is still awaited.
  • Goa immediately announced that it would take an all-party delegation to Prime Minister and meet other Union ministers to block the project.

What is the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project?

River Mahadayi originates from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka and flows into the Arabian Sea in Goa. Kalasa and Banduri streams are tributaries of Mahadayi.

  • The Kalasa Banduri Nala project aims to divert water from River Mahadayi to satisfy the drinking water needs of Karnataka’s parched districts (Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts).
  • As per plans, this project aims to build barrages against Kalasa and Banduri streams of River Mahadayi.
  • Though the project was first proposed in the early 1980s, it has remained on paper owing to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.

Why is there a dispute?

  • Since the proposal in 2002, Karnataka government during the tenure of SM Krishna as chief minister (2009-2012) decided to implement the project, after the Centre cleared it.
  • Goa, under its then CM Manohar Parrikar (2000-2002), approached the Centre, urging it to assess the available resources in the river and allocate water to the three basin states — Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
  • Due to the protests in Goa and also due to concerns over ecological damage, the project was put on hold by the then Central government.
  • Tribunal - In 2006, Goa approached the Supreme Court, seeking the creation of a Tribunal to settle the water sharing dispute.
  • The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) was finally set up by the Central government in 2010.

What did the Tribunal say?

  • In 2018, the Tribunal awarded 13.42 TMC water from Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra and 24 TMC to Goa.
  • In Karnataka’s share, 5.5 TMC was to meet drinking water needs and 8.02 TMC was for hydro-electricity generation.
  • Of the 5.5 TMC, 3.8 TMC was to be diverted to Malaprabha basin through Kalasa and Banduri Nalas (canals).
  • This was notified by the Central government in February 2020.

What happened after the notification?

  • After the Tribunal award, Goa filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court in July 2019, challenging the quantum of allocation.
  • In 2020, it filed a contempt petition before the SC, accusing Karnataka of illegally diverting water from the Mahadayi basin.
  • Civil appeals were also filed by Maharashtra over the dispute.

Reference

  1. Indian Express | Mahadayi water sharing row between Goa, Karnataka

Quick Facts

River Mahadayi

  • River Mahadayi spreads across the districts of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
  • It rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Belagavi district of Karnataka.
  • Flowing westward, it enters Goa. Over two-thirds of the river’s stretch lies in Goa (76km).
  • It is known as River Mandovi in Goa.
  • River Mahadayi joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji, Goa.
  • Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, an estuarine mangrove habitat, which is declared as the bird sanctuary, and located on western tip of the Island of Chorao along the Mandovi River, Goa.
  • Tributaries of Mahadayi include, Kalasa Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, Andher Nala, etc.
  • The variations in the terrain has led to formation of various water falls such as the Doodhsagar falls,Vajra poha fallsetc.

mahadayi.jpg

Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

sidetext
Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme
sidetext