💧 Mahadayi River Dispute: Water Sharing & Legal Tensions Resurface

Water, a lifeline for millions, continues to stir conflict—this time, again between Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.

The Mahadayi River, originating in Karnataka's Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, flows westward into Goa, eventually draining into the Arabian Sea. Known as the Mandovi River in Goa, it is fed by tributaries like the Kalasa and Banduri Nala, and even nourishes the iconic Dudhsagar Falls.

But beneath this scenic flow lies a long-standing interstate water dispute.

Karnataka’s long-standing Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, intended to supply drinking and irrigation water to its arid districts like Gadag, Dharwad, and Belagavi, has faced consistent opposition from Goa. The state argues that water diversion will harm its downstream flow, impacting ecology, agriculture, and water availability.

In response, a tribunal was formed in 2010, awarding:

24 TMC to Goa

13.4 TMC to Karnataka

1.33 TMC to Maharashtra

Unhappy with this, Goa approached the Supreme Court in 2019, and now plans to return again, citing continued concerns over water allocation. Meanwhile, Karnataka and Maharashtra are also part of the legal proceedings.

This dispute is a critical reminder of how interstate water sharing remains one of India’s most sensitive and unresolved challenges.

When natural resources cross political boundaries, cooperation must cross them too.

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