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

Kalasa-Banduri Project

• About: The project entails constructing dams and a canal system to divert water from Goa’s Mahadayi River to the Malaprabha River basin in Karnataka, which is a tributary of the Krishna River.
• Objective: To supply drinking water to the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka.
• Status: Although the project was initially proposed in the early 1980s, it has not progressed beyond the planning stage due to a dispute among Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Mahadayi River Water Dispute

• Origins of the Dispute: The Mahadayi River dispute began in the 1980s and intensified over time. 
  • Karnataka’s plans to build dams, canals, and barrages to divert Mahadayi water to the Malaprabha basin sparked the conflict, as the state claimed this would meet the water needs of Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad, and Belagavi districts.
• Establishment of Tribunal: To address the dispute, Goa sought the constitution of a water disputes tribunal in 2002 and moved the apex court in 2006. After persistent efforts, the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal was established on November 16, 2010.
• Goa’s Argument: Goa says diverting the Mahadayi River could harm its ecosystem, leading to saltwater damage to mangroves and upsetting the local ecological balance.
• Dispute: The dispute over Mahadayi water revolves around allocation. Karnataka argues for diverting surplus water to the Malaprabha basin for drinking, irrigation, agriculture, and power. Goa opposes, citing water scarcity and potential harm to agriculture if supply is reduced.
• Stand of Supreme court: The Supreme Court halted Karnataka’s construction of dams and canals on the Mahadayi River due to Goa’s concerns that Karnataka might store excess water in its reservoirs for irrigation in other regions of the state.

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Mahadayi River

• Origins: Originating in the Western Ghats, the Mahadayi River starts from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Belgaum district, Karnataka.
• Type of River: Known as Mandovi in Goa, the Mahadayi River is a rain-fed river shared by Karnataka and Goa to meet their water requirements.
• Tributaries: Kalasa Nala, Banduri Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, and Andher Nala.
• Towns:Belgaum and Panaji, inhabited by communities such as Kumri Marati, Goudas, and Konkanis.
• WaterfallsDudhsagar Falls and VajraPoha Falls.
• Type of Farming: Khazan farming is popular in the Mahadayi basin, where elevated farmland is protected by bundhs. 
  • This method supports waterlogged farming, particularly for paddy cultivation, and is managed by the community as an integrated agro-aqua ecosystem. The embankments or bundhs are crucial for controlling water salinity.
• Protected Areas: Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary & International Bird Area, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park

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