Mahadayi water dispute
Also called: Mhadei, Kalasa-Banduri, Mhadei dispute · Topic: Water Resources of India: Availability, Use and Conservation · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Mahadayi (also spelt Mhadei) is a west-flowing river shared by Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra. Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri plan would send some of its water east into the Malaprabha basin to meet drinking-water needs in its dry north. Goa, which is downstream, fears this will cut its river flow and harm its environment. The dispute shows the pull between a state upstream and a state downstream.
Example
In August 2018 the Mahadayi tribunal partly allowed Karnataka's Kalasa-Banduri diversion to the Malaprabha basin. Goa still opposes the diversion, so the dispute remains a current issue.
Don't confuse with
- Kaveri water dispute: it is about an east-flowing river shared by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The Supreme Court settled the shares in 2018. In the Mahadayi case, Karnataka is the state wanting to take water away from a west-flowing river.