Jamming Karnataka’s efforts at damming Mhadei

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s bold decision not to bow down to Karnataka’s request for an ‘out-of-court settlement’ over the sharing of River Mhadei’s waters needs to be applauded and supported by every Goan. That’s what those closely following the dispute in the tribunal are saying. They feel that the series of protests and road blockades by people at Jamboti, Belgaum and neighbouring areas are nothing but Karnataka’s pressure tactics to misguide the central government about the crucial water diversion issue. 

The visible frustration on the part of Karnataka is only because the ongoing case before the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal  (MWDT), where Goa has fought very effectively, is leading to a situation where the State is well on its way to win its contentions thereby protecting the waters of the River Mandovi.

The river Mhadei, as it is called in Karnataka, is known in Goa as the Mandovi, and originates in the lush green forested areas of the Karnataka village of Degao within the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary near Khanapur. From Degao, the Mhadei flows through the jungle and enters into Gavali-Chapoli from where it tumbles down to form a perennial waterfall of the Vazra Poya. From Krishnapur, the river enters Goa in Cadval of Sattari.

In Goa it covers 1580 sq kms of the catchment area of Mhadei basin while in Karnataka it covers merely 375 sq kms. There are also another 76 sq kms of catchment area in Maharashtra.

Karnataka, for over a decade has been seeking permission to divert 7.56tmc feet of water by constructing nearly six dams, including the Kalasa-Bhandura canal, to meet the drinking water needs of Hubli-Dharwad cities. Under, the Kalasa-Bhandura Project, Karnataka wants to divert, the Kalasa, the Haltara, the Bhandura nallas, all important feeders to the Mhadei.

Even as Goa’s protests against diversion continue, in 2014 Karnataka applied to divert an additional 4tmc feet of water from other tributaries originating in Karnataka but later joining the Mhadei or the Mandovi, that would dry up the entire river. The construction of a canal to divert the Kalasa tributary from an eco-sensitive zone to Malaprabha basin is pending before the MWDT since 2010. 

Since the BJP-led government took over in Goa in March 2012, the State has made strong contentions before the tribunal. Apart from highlighting that diversion of the Mhadei waters to Karnataka, will have a severe impact on the water lifeline of the State, it was pointed out that it will have a major impact on the State bio-diversity and on the Western Ghats. 

Water Resources minister Dayanand Mandrekar pointed out that Karnataka plans to construct six dams within its jurisdiction on the Mhadei, dams upstream of Khandepar river in Karnataka –Katla dam, Palna dam, Diggi-Mara dam and Diggi-Bondeli dam  — to divert water to Supa reservoir.

“Goa has strongly objected to all the diversion of Mhadei river waters, including the diversions of the Khandepar river. The issue of drinking water at Opa has already been brought on record before the tribunal by even taking the tribunal to the Opa treatment site. The Khandepar river is a lifeline of the State as the water treatment plant is on the river at Opa, which supplies drinking water to Tiswadi and Ponda taluka and provides irrigational needs of around 10,000 ha,” he explained. 

“Goa will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the State’s interest is protected. Government is not ready for any out of court settlement as its case is very strong before the Tribunal,” the Minister said, pointing to the two different orders issued in 2013 and 2014, wherein the Tribunal directed Karnataka to stop its ongoing works.

However, Karnataka under the Kalasa-Bhandura schemes has already completed the major work of the Kalasa Canal in Kankumbi and simultaneously wants to carry work of damming and diverting tributaries like Haltara, Bhandura, that are the main sources of water for the Mhadei Sanctuary of Goa.

On the ecological front, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said that the Mhadei region overlapping the State’s north-eastern border into Maharashtra and Karnataka is home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears,  endangered species, and many other animal and bird species. “Mhadei wildlife sanctuary forms a solid corridor for wildlife. The sanctuary is possibly the only potential tiger habitat in the northern Western Ghats region,” he explained.

In the recent few hearings before the Tribunal, State Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni has emphasized on environmental and wildlife damages on account of the proposed damming and diversion of the tributaries of the Mhadei. Goa, for the first time raised these issues of Western Ghats and Bio diversity, after making its case strong on the account of water scarcity the State will face due to the diversion.

“The damming and diversion of the Kattika nalla and other tributaries of the Haltara nalla would affect environment, ecology as well as human life of Goa,” this was the strong point the AG raised before the Tribunal that rightly accepted the submission and framed 60 issues for trial on Goa’s demand.

“Damming and diversion of water of the tributaries of Mhadei by Karnataka and Maharashtra (Virdi dam) will have serious implications on water treatment plants in the Mhadei basin, aquatic life, flora and fauna, river navigation, sediment flow forest and wildlife sanctuaries,” Kerkar, who has been closely following the case, pointed out. 

Presently, Goa government is involved in submitting information to MWDT about biodiversity, wildlife and ecology that will be affected on account of the Kalasa-Bhandura project on the various tributaries of the Mhadei. The State government has signed an MoU with  DHI-(India) Water & Environment Pvt Ltd; a Danish scientific study organisation to conduct a detailed study for “Assessment of the Sustainability of Goa Waterways” on Mhadei and Zuari rivers.