The Centre has informed the Karnataka government that environmental and forest clearances for the proposed Mhadei drinking water project will be considered only after the Supreme Court delivers its verdict in the long-pending interstate dispute with Goa.
The decision is seen as another setback for Karnataka’s proposed river-linking project, which has remained embroiled in legal and environmental challenges despite securing water allocation from the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal in 2018 and completing the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
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According to the Centre, further processing of the required clearances will remain on hold until the apex court resolves the ongoing dispute between the two neighbouring states.
Goa has consistently opposed the project, expressing concerns over its potential impact on the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats, including forests, wildlife habitats and the natural flow of the Mhadei River, which is a vital source of drinking water for the state.
The latest communication from the Centre underscores the significance of the pending Supreme Court proceedings in determining the future of the project, with both Goa and Karnataka continuing to maintain opposing positions on the utilisation of the Mhadei river waters.
