Mahadayi River — Goa-Karnataka Water Dispute

UPSC Relevance: Geography

Why in News?

The Mahadayi basin remains a major inter-state water dispute involving Karnataka and Goa.

Geography

Mahadayi is also called:

  • Mandovi

  • Mhadei

It originates in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and flows westward towards Goa and the Arabian Sea.

States

The basin is associated with:

  • Karnataka

  • Goa

  • Maharashtra

Major Issue

Karnataka's proposed diversion of water from:

  • Kalasa

  • Bhandura/Banduri

towards the Malaprabha basin has been strongly opposed by Goa.

Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal

The tribunal's award allocated water among the states and permitted limited diversion for Karnataka.

2026 Development

The Centre stated that no Karnataka proposal for environmental clearance for the diversion was under consideration; the dispute also remains connected with proceedings before the Supreme Court.

UPSC Key Pointers

Mahadayi → Western Ghats → west-flowing → Goa → Arabian Sea

Important themes:

  • Inter-state river disputes

  • Article 262

  • Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956

  • Environmental clearance

  • Forest/wildlife clearance

  • Western Ghats ecology