Goa & Karnataka at loggerheads again over Kalasa-Banduri project as central body inspects Mahadayi basin

Sub: Geography

Sec: Indian Physical Geo

Context:

On July 7, 2024, a team from the Progressive River Authority for Water and Harmony (PRAWAH) visited the Belagavi district, part of a tour of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra through which the Mahadayi River flows.
The visit rekindled a four-decade-old dispute between Karnataka and Goa over sharing the Mahadayi River.
Environmental concern includes Deforestation and its impact on tiger conservation, although no tiger presence was reported in the Kanakumbi forest.

Mahadayi River dispute:

In 1985, Karnataka proposed a 350 MW hydroelectric project to divert half of the Mahadayi River’s water for irrigation, sparking long-standing protests from Goa over potential water security issues.
PRAWAH officials inspected Chorla Ghat and Haratala Nala and met with state irrigation officials, discussing the Kalasa and Banduri projects.

Dispute and Tribunal Verdict:

The Mahadayi Water Tribunal, established under the Interstate River Water Disputes Act, allocated water to Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra in 2018.
The tribunal allowed Goa to use 24 tmcft, Karnataka 5.4 tmcft, and Maharashtra 1.33 tmcft.
Karnataka appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming the allocation was unfair.
In February 2020, the central government allowed Karnataka to draw 13.42 tmcft of water, including 8 tmcft for power generation, but no water has been received yet.

Mahadayi river:

The Mandovi or Mahadayi, formerly known as the Rio de Goa, is a river described as the lifeline of the Indian state of Goa.
- The Mandovi and the Zuari are the two principal rivers in the state of Goa.
The Mandovi joins with the Zuari at a common creek at Cabo Aguada, forming the Mormugao harbour.
- Cumbarjua Canal links both the river.
Panaji, the state capital and Old Goa, the former capital of Goa, are both situated on the left bank of the Mandovi.
Origin: A cluster of 30 springs at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats of Belgaum district in Karnataka state.
Major waterfalls: Dudhsagar Falls and Varapoha Falls
Mouth: Arabian Sea
Tributaries: Nerul River, St Inez Creek, Rio de Ourém, Mapusa River, Valvanti River, Udnai River, Dudhsagar River, Ragada River and Kotrachi Nadi.
Islets: Three large freshwater isles — Divar, Chorão and Vanxim are present in the Mandovi near the town of Old Goa. The island of Chorão is home to the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, named after the renowned ornithologist Salim Ali.

Source: DTE