Mahadayi water sharing row between Goa, Karnataka: What is the issue, why it has flared up
Context- Karnataka’s decision to go ahead with a water diversion project on river Mahadayi has escalated its long-standing dispute on the issue with neighboring Goa.
On December 30, 2022, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told to the Legislative Assembly that the government had received clearance from the Centre for two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) on the Kalasa-Banduri Nala on the Mahadayi. Goa immediately raised a red flag, announcing on January 2 that it would take an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet other Union ministers to block the project.
What is the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, and why the dispute?
- The Kalasa-Banduri Nala project aims to divert water from Mahadayi to satisfy the drinking water needs of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot and Gadag districts. Though the project was first proposed in the early 1980s, it has remained on paper owing to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
- Mahadayi originates inside the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Belagavi district of Karnataka and flows into the Arabian Sea in Goa.
- A Tribunal was finally set up by the UPA government in November 2010.
What did the Tribunal say?
The Tribunal in 2018 awarded 13.42 TMC water from Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra and 24 TMC to Goa.
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. Subsequently, in October 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.
What are other river water disputes?
(Credits- Ministry of Environment and Forest)
What are the constitutional Provisions?
- According to Article 262, in case of disputes relating to waters:
- Parliament may by law provide for the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
- Parliament may, by law, provide that neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as mentioned above.
Conclusion- Amicable settlement of river water disputes should be a priority as legal disputes between states ultimately make lives of common people difficult.
Source – Indian Express
NEWS- Mahadayi water sharing row between Goa, Karnataka : What is the issue, why it has flared up
Syllabus- GS-2; Federalism
