Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project: Karnataka’s decision to go ahead with a water diversion project on the river Mahadayi has escalated its long-standing dispute on the issue with neighboring Goa.
What is the Kalasa-Banduri Nala Project?
- The Kalasa Banduri Nala project aims to divert water from Mahadayi to satisfy the drinking water needs of the 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.
- As per plans, barrages are to be built against Kalasa and Banduri streams — tributaries of Mahadayi — and water diverted toward Karnataka’s parched districts.
The larger issue: Mahadayi dispute
Mahadayi originates inside the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in the Belagavi district of Karnataka and flows into the Arabian Sea in Goa. Goa, under its then CM Manohar Parrikar, approached the Centre, urging it to assess the available resources in the river and allocate water to the three basin states — Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Due to the protests in Goa and also due to concerns over ecological damage, the project was put on hold by the then government.
The dispute gained steam in 2006 when Karnataka decided to start work on the project.
Goa then approached the Supreme Court, seeking the creation of a tribunal to settle the water-sharing dispute.
A Tribunal was finally set up by the UPA government in November 2010.
What did the Tribunal award?
- The Tribunal in 2018 awarded 13.42 TMC of water from the Mahadayi river basin to Karnataka, 1.33 TMC to Maharashtra, and 24 TMC to Goa.
- In Karnataka’s share, 5.5 TMC was to meet drinking water needs and 8.02 TMC was for hydroelectricity generation.
- Of the 5.5 TMC, 3.8 TMC was to be diverted to the Malaprabha basin through Kalasa and Banduri Nalas (canals).
- This was notified by the Central government in February 2020.
Issues raised with the Tribunals award
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.
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