Team Goemkarponn
BENGALURU: The fourth meeting of the Mhadei PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony) Committee held in Bengaluru witnessed renewed tensions among the riparian states of Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka over long-standing inter-state water disputes.
In a significant move, Goa extended its support to Maharashtra’s demand for the Virdi dam project, aimed at augmenting water storage and irrigation capacity on the Tillari River, a tributary of the Mhadei. The project, however, continues to face opposition from Karnataka, which raised concerns over potential downstream impacts and basin management imbalances.
At the same meeting, Karnataka rejected Goa’s demand for a joint inspection of the Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion project, citing the matter’s sub judice status. The controversial project, which proposes the diversion of Mhadei river water to the Malaprabha basin in Karnataka, has been at the heart of a long-standing legal and political battle between Goa and Karnataka.
Goa has consistently raised concerns about the environmental impact of the Kalsa-Bhandura project and has pushed for an on-ground joint inspection by all three states. However, Karnataka maintained that any such inspection would be inappropriate while the case remains under judicial consideration.
The PRAWAH committee, formed to facilitate dialogue and coordination among the basin states, has yet to produce a breakthrough on contentious projects. The latest meeting highlighted the continued deadlock, with no consensus reached on either issue.
Further discussions are expected in subsequent meetings, pending legal developments and central government mediation.
