The Tribunal's decision was submitted to the Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday and ended 50-year long dispute between Goa and Karnataka over sharing of Mahadayi river's water
The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) on Tuesday permitted Karnataka to use 5.5 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water from the Mahadayi river basin of which 1.5 tmcft would be for drinking water and irrigation, and 4 tmcft for the proposed Bhandura and Kalasa dam combined. Further, the Tribunal also permitted Karnataka to use 8.02 tmcft for generating hydropower from the Kotni project with a caveat that its use would be allowed only after modifying the DPR and after obtaining clearances.
The Tribunal's decision was submitted to the Union Minister for Water Resources Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday and ended 50-year long dispute between Goa and Karnataka over sharing of Mahadayi river's water, also known as Mandovi in Goa.
The Tribunal though, turned down Karnataka's demand to divert 5.5 tmcft water of the river to the Supa reservoir of the Kali hydroelectric power project and diversion of 7 tmcft of surplus water from the proposed Kotni reservoir as it was not justified. Meanwhile, Goa was permitted to use 24tmcft of water over and above its existing utilization of 9.39tmcft while Maharashtra can use 1.33 tmcft.
The MWDT's award drew contrasting reactions from chief ministers of respective states. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar expressed happiness on the award in a tweet. "I am happy that the Mhadei Tribunal with its final verdict has done justice to Goa. I thank the legal team and everyone who have fought relentlessly for protecting our lifeline Mhadei." Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy said in a statement, "The final award recommendation of the Tribunal is about 12 volumes and (government) will take appropriate decision only after studying it in detail and consulting with all concerned." Interestingly, former CM YS Yeddyurappa welcomed the award and termed it as a victory for farmers.
The MWDT was set-up in 2010 after talks between the states failed. The award adjudicated under chairmanship of Justice J.M.Panchal runs into 12 volumes and 2,700 pages and 109 sittings were held. The Tribunal also directed Centre to form a Mahadayi Water Management Authority for implementation of the water sharing award.
The Mahadayi river originates from Belagavi district in north Karnataka but the river largely flows through Goa and is backbone for the state's agrarian needs and drinking water. Karnataka's demands, on the other hand, largely rest on its needs to feed the drier northern belt by diverting the river's water to Malaprabha basin, a tributary of Krishna river.
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