TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The Central Government on Wednesday extended the term of the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) by one more year, till Aug 19, 2022.
This is the fourth time the Jal Shakti Ministry has extended the term of the Tribunal constituted in 2010 to resolve the Mhadei water sharing dispute between three riparian States – Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.
The Tribunal had requested the Centre to extend the period of submission of its further report for a period of one-year with effect from the August 20, 2021. In response to this the Central government extended the period of submission of further report by the MWDT to August 19, 2022.
The Tribunal was earlier required to submit its report and decision to the Jal Shakti Ministry on or before August 20, 2021.
The Centre in November 2010 constituted the Tribunal and the dispute
between the two neighbouring States of Goa and Karnataka was referred to the Tribunal, as per the directives of the Supreme Court.
The Tribunal comprised chairman Justice (retd) J M Panchal, Justice (retd) Vinay Mittal of Madhya Pradesh High Court and Justice (retd) P S Narayana of Andhra Pradesh High Court.
Ending a protracted water dispute, the Mhadei River Water Tribunal on August 14, 2018 passed its order allocating 13.42 TMC water (including 3.9 TMC for diversion into the depleted Malaprabha river basin) from the Mhadei river basin to Karnataka, while Goa and Maharashtra were allowed to use 24 TMC and 1.33 TMC of water respectively.
Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra had respectively demanded 36.71 TMC; 122 TMC and 6.5 TMC of water from the Mhadei river.
The Goa government has already filed a contempt petition before the Supreme Court against Karnataka for diverting Mhadei waters by constructing conduits to the Malaprabha basin, in violation of directives of the court and the Tribunal.
Mhadei known as Mandovi river in Goa, is the lifeline of the State as people of North Goa district are dependent on it for drinking water.
