The sharing of water of the Mandovi River is a cause of dispute between the governments of Karnataka and Goa. This is aggravated by Karnataka government’s proposal to divert some water from the Mhadei River to the Malaprabha river basin as part of the Kalasa-Banduri Nala project as approximately 200 TCM of water is flowing to Arabian Sea without using. Mhadei Water Tribunal has to share this river water to Karnataka and Goa. Central Govt. has to build a dam in Old Goa and allot water to both states. Sharing justice may be 30:70 respectively.
AG Atmaram Nadkarni’s has truly accessed the consequences’ of losing Goa’s case before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal. His professional sincerity displays his strong will to save the Mandovi River from shallow waters. The crux of this case is not all that meets the eye in this case the – Karnataka Timber Mafia. There are already rumour’s floating that officials and bureaucrats in Goa are creating obstacles and are prejudiced as they stand to benefit financially from the timber mafia. The Karnataka timber lobby is eyeing for a forest in Mhadei basin which will be open for exploitation as it will be submerged in dam waters.
Karnataka is applying the same modus operandi which Tamil Nadu had applied presenting their case to manipulate the Kaveri Water Disputes Tribunal in their favour. During the dispute of sharing the Kaveri River, Karnataka contended that it did not receive its due share of water from the river. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, pleaded that it has already developed almost 12000 sq kms of land and as a result has come to depend very heavily on the existing pattern of usage. Any change in this pattern, it claimed would adversely affect the livelihood of millions of farmers in the state.
Adjudication of water disputes is the subject of a Tribunal which is constituted under Section 4. The Tribunal shall investigate the matters referred to it and forward to the Central Government a report setting out the facts as found by it and giving its decision on the matters referred to it. The decision of the Tribunal shall be final and binding on the parties to the disputes and shall be given effect to by them.
Water is the anchor of local livelihoods & culture. The moral obligation and responsibility of the state government is to protect the rivers, wells, rain harvests and create an awareness programme for the future in this connection. The report of the National Water Development Agency in 1990 has declared that the Mandovi basin is a water deficit basin, whereas Malaprabha basin is a water surplus basin.
Mhadei River, originating in Karnataka, is called as Mandovi once it approaches Panaji in Goa, traverses through 28.8 kms in Karnataka and 81.2 kms in Goa. The river, termed as Goa’s lifeline, has 2032 sq kms catchment area in Karnataka while 1,580 sq kms catchment area in Goa.
The Mhadei’s source is in the Sahyadris in the dense forests of Karnataka in a remote village Degao near Khanapur. Ragoda and Calem are the main left bank tributaries and Mapusa, Khandepar, Nanode, Kumbhtol, Patwal, Khotodem, Kotrachi, Zarme, Advoi, Volvonta and Sinquerim as the main right bank tributaries, the river has the largest drainage basin in Goa.
The Mhadei, known as Mandovi in Goa, meets a major part of the state’s drinking water and irrigation needs. Karnataka has finished digging a canal for diverting water from a tributary of Goa’s lifeline, Mhadei. Goa has over 70 per cent of the Mhadei’s basin and its Mhadei wildlife sanctuary is dependent on the river. The object of the Kalsa-Bhandura project is to alteration the flow eastward rather than flowing westward towards Goa in the monsoon.
The Karnataka forest department, flouting the Forest Conservation Act is also helping Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd complete the project; this company carries out the state’s irrigation work. DMC Constructions at Kankumbi is the engineering company that is handling the Rs 200 crore project for Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd. Karnataka is not only diverting the water from Mhadei to Malaprabha thus reversing the river’s flow, but also building a dam near Tilkwadi almost 600 metres above sea level that will completely shut off half a dozen streams away from Mandovi. The dam at Tilkwadi on Karnataka-Goa border will begin soon after MoEF’s clearances.
This project envisages diverting water from Kalasa, Banduri, Halatar, Chorla, Potla, Korla and Gurki streams from Mhadei (Mandovi) to Malaprabha river and provide irrigation and supply of drinking water to Savadatti, Ramadurg talukas of Belgaum district, Navalgund in Dharwad district, Ron and Naragund in Gadag district and Badami in Bagalkot district. The diversion aims to solve the drinking water problem in Dharwad-Hubli region.
The Goa government had filed a case in the Supreme Court in 2006 for staying the canal work in Karnataka, diverting water from Kalsa nala to the Malaprabha River under the Kalsa-Bhandura irrigation project violating the forest and wildlife laws. Goa had gone to the Supreme Court, hoping the apex court would at least direct the Water Tribunal to issue a stay order.
An open forum was organised by the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) at the Caritas Hall, Panjim, held on Oct 9, 2006. At the forum it was observed that the Goa government’s action was not moving at the desired speed as was expected. With only nine days being left for the Supreme Court to issue an order on the Mhadei diversion and while the Karnataka government was busy lobbying at various levels, the Goa government had not even constituted the all-party delegation to present its case before the Centre.
River Mandovi holds a place of pride on the map of Goa. The Mandovi has never been a nuisance, chiefly since it never floods, given the fact that is connected to the Arabian Sea. The Mandovi earns hefty revenue for Goa towards fees from the floating casinos. It enables Goa’s tourist attraction, the river cruises which take the tourists on a relaxing trip down the river. Hundreds of fishing boats harboured at Malim, thus supporting another one of Goa’s important business and also a staple meal, the fish. Mandovi is a fuel saving and transport route, by ferryboats. Mandovi also gives us the most decent beach of Goa, the Miramar beach and adds serene beauty to Panjim. Mandovi’s contribution to Goa’s economy is unparalleled.
(The author is a freelance journalist)
