Mahadayi/ Mhadei Water Dispute
From: Karnataka elections: Where Mahadayi begins, Marathi connect matters more than water dispute, May 3, 2018 : The Indian Express
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The dispute
As in early 2018
January 24, 2018: The Indian Express
What is the Mahadayi river dispute?
Mahadayi river rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Flowing westward, it enters Goa from Sattari taluk of North Goa districts.
The dispute over Mahadayi river has resurfaced over the past few weeks and tensions have been rife between Goa and Karnataka. So, what is the dispute all about?
The dispute over Mahadayi river began in the 80s and grew stronger in the subsequent decades. The trigger was Karnataka’s move to design a number of dams, canals and barrages to route the Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin. The state claimed that channelling the river water into the basin of Malaprabha, a tributary of the Krishna, would meet the requirements of water-scarce districts of Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi.
Goa, seeking redressal to the dispute in 2002, sought the constitution of a water disputes tribunal. The state also moved the apex court in 2006 with its demand. After sustained efforts by the Goan government, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was set up on November 16, 2010.
Goa contends that its population is dependent on the river’s natural path and any move to divert it would affect its fragile ecosystem. It claimed that the ingress of saltwater in the river, which is dependent on monsoons, will ultimately end up killing the state’s mangroves and green belt, disturb the relationship between the people and the land, as well as the ecological balance.
The dispute is also around the amount of water that Goa receives. Karnataka claims that the surplus from Mahadayi drains into the sea and that it should be diverted into the deficit basin in Malaprabha to meet the state’s drinking, irrigation, agriculture and power generation needs. Goa has, meanwhile, denied Karnataka’s claims saying it is a water deficient state and limiting the water supply would adversely impact its agriculture production.
Supreme Court has, for now, stayed the construction of dams and canals by Karnataka on the Mahadayi. Karnataka claims it requires 7.56 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water from Mahadayi to meet the requirement of farmers of North Karnataka. Goa, nonetheless, has expressed reservations claiming Karnataka may stock excess water in its reservoirs so that it can be used for irrigation in other parts of the state.
Mahadayi river rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Flowing westward, it enters Goa from Sattari taluk of North Goa districts. A number of streams join the flow of the river to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa. It joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
The Mahadayi river, also spelt Mhadei or Mahadeyi, stretches 111-km. Over two-thirds of the river’s stretch lies in Goa (76km). The Mandovi is important for Goa also because it is one of the few sweet-water sources at the state’s disposal. Most of Goa’s 11 rivers contain salt water and Mandovi ensures water security as well as being an important place to source fish for the state.
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May 7, 2018: The Times of India
HIGHLIGHTS
The Mahadayi river rises in the Western Ghats from Karnataka's Belagavi district
Mahadayi is Goa's one of the few sweet-water sources
The dispute over Mahadayi river began in the 1980s.
Mahadayi river dispute between Karnataka, Goa explained
Karnataka and Goa are locked in a battle for the last three decades over sharing of water from Mahadayi river which flows in both the states. The issue has intensified in the backdrop of the forthcoming Assembly election in Karnataka.
The Mahadayi river, stretching 111 km, rises in the Western Ghats from Karnataka's Belagavi district. It flows westward to enter Goa. The river is joined by a number of streams to form the Mahadayi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa. Mahadayi finally flows into the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
A major portion of the river's stretch lies in Goa. The Mahadayi holds a special significance for Goa because it is one of the few sweet-water sources in the state.
The dispute over Mahadayi river began in the 1980s. The immediate reason was Karnataka's decision to build a number of dams, canals and barrages to route the Mahadayi river water to the Malaprabha basin in order to meet the requirements of water-scarce districts of Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad and Belagavi. Goa objected to Karnataka's decision and moved the Supreme Court in 2006. It succeeded in getting the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal set up on November 16, 2010.
Goa argues that its population is dependent on the river's natural path and any move to divert it would affect its fragile ecosystem.
Karnataka counters by saying the surplus from Mahadayi drains into the sea and, therefore, it should be better utilised by diverting it into the deficit basin in Malaprabha to meet the state's various needs.
The poll-bound also claims that it requires 7.56 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water from Mahadayi to meet the requirement of farmers of North Karnataka. More importantly, it needs the water for the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. This will help in augmenting the drinking water supply to Hubballi-Dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag.
The Supreme Court stayed the construction of dams and canals by Karnataka on the Mahadayi.
In 2002, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre had then cleared the project. However, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar opposed it.
The project was stalled by the NDA government following objections from Parrikar.
Politics over Mahadayi has heated up in view of the forthcoming election in Karnataka. Parrikar, who is still the Goa chief minister, is opposed to the project. However, he seems to have diluted his stand a bit.
In December 2017, BJP's Karnataka chief and chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa and other leaders met Parrikar in the presence of party chief Amit Shah in Delhi over the issue.
Parrikar wrote to Yeddyurappa, stating that Goa will not oppose giving water to Karnataka for its drinking needs.
But Karnataka farmers have been demanding water be released from the Mahadayi to solve their irrigation needs besides solving drinking water problem.
In February, when Congress president Rahul Gandhi was touring Bagalkote, Belagavi and Dharwad, farmers in large numbers launched a hunger strike demanding release of water.
BJP national president Amit Shah while touring the districts in North Karnataka on Monday assured the people in Kalaburagi that the party would solve the Mahadayi dispute once it comes to power in the state.
He also said that it was difficult to solve the issue when different parties were ruling in Karnataka and Goa.
Political implications
Karnataka: May 2018
Karnataka Assembly Elections: The election is taking place against the backdrop of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s government aggressively fuelling the Kannada pride debate — pushing for a state flag, and protesting against Kannada not being made an optional language in central recruitment tests.
The Mahadayi water row with Goa had angered farmers in Belagavi, the sugar bowl of Karnataka, some time ago. The Marathi-Kannada divide has also riven the region in the past. With days left for the Assembly elections, the two once sensitive issues have largely taken a back seat. Attempts are nevertheless being made to woo the Marathi voters.
Here in Belagavi, the Marathi party that had some influence on the voters is struggling. The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has broken into more than two factions. Many believe Marathi voters have become disillusioned with MES because of the infighting. More so the younger population, who studied in English-medium schools and don’t identify with the Marathi language as strongly as elders.
The Mahadayi row is not even being talked about. Congress and BJP leaders say while the river originates in Belagavi, the beneficiaries are farmers in neighbouring districts. While the Congress talks about the Bhagya and other welfare schemes, the BJP hits back with corruption allegations. Modi has visited the region five times, but has not yet mentioned about Mahadayi.
The BJP had raised the issue in a big way after Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar wrote to B S Yeddyurappa stating that Goa will not oppose “in principle” sharing water with Karnataka for drinking purposes. The party has, however, gone silent on this after the Goa Water Resources Minister simultaneously called the letter a political stunt.
The Tribunal’s verdict
2018
Ending the 50-year-old water sharing dispute among Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal delivered its final verdict yesterday. According to the verdict, Goa will get maximum share of the water followed by Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The tribunal has allowed Goa to use 24 tmc water from Mahadayi or Mandovi river for its municipal, irrigation and industrial water requirements.
The state of Karnataka has been allowed to use 13.4 tmc of water for power generation and drinking purposes. Maharashtra got the lowest share of 1.33 tmc water to meet its in-basin needs with respect to five projects
The tribunal, established in 2010, also directed the Union government to set-up Mahadayi Water Management Authority to implement its decisions. Mahadayi river basin drains an area of 2032 square km of which 375 square km lies in Karnataka, 77 sq km in Maharashtra and the remaining in Goa.
Goa had staunchly opposed Karnataka's plan to divert water from the tributaries of the river saying it will create water shortage in the state. Karnataka had claimed that its action was justified as it was to providing drinking water. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar expressed happiness over the tribunal's decision. He claimed that justice has been served.
"I am happy that Mahadayi tribunal did justice to Goa's demands. I thank the legal team and everyone who fought relentlessly for protecting our lifeline," he said.
