Goa to File Contempt Petition Against Karnataka in Supreme Court Over Mhadei River Diversion

The Hindu | 23-Jul-2025
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Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that his government will file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court against Karnataka for diverting Mhadei river water, despite the matter being under judicial consideration. The inter-state dispute involves the Kalasa-Banduri project, which Goa fears will harm its ecology and water security. The move underscores deepening tensions between the riparian States and raises important questions about compliance with tribunal directives and ecological sustainability.

In a significant escalation of the ongoing interstate water conflict, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the State Assembly that his government would move the Supreme Court with a contempt petition against Karnataka. The allegation pertains to Karnataka's continued attempts to divert the waters of the Mhadei river, despite the matter being sub judice.

This announcement comes amid mounting political pressure from opposition parties in Goa, who have criticised the State government for failing to restrain Karnataka's alleged illegal water diversion activities.

The Mhadei River: Lifeline Turned Flashpoint

The Mhadei river, known as the Mandovi once it enters Goa, originates in the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka's Belagavi district and travels westward into Goa before emptying into the Arabian Sea. It is vital for Goa's ecology, agriculture, and drinking water supply, supporting not only urban and rural livelihoods but also sensitive ecosystems like the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

The river has become a flashpoint of contention between the riparian States of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, particularly due to Karnataka’s Kalasa-Banduri Nala project. This project aims to divert water from the Mhadei basin to meet the drinking water needs of Hubballi-Dharwad and surrounding districts in Karnataka's drought-prone Malaprabha basin. Goa has objected on the grounds that such diversion would threaten its water security and ecological stability.

Legal Battles and Tribunal's Role

To address the inter-state water-sharing dispute, the Union government had constituted the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) in 2010. In its final award in 2018, the Tribunal allocated:

  • 13.42 tmcft of water to Karnataka,

  • 1.33 tmcft to Maharashtra,

  • While Goa’s share was not explicitly curtailed, the State has expressed concerns over downstream flow reduction.

All three States challenged the Tribunal's award before the Supreme Court, and the matter remains pending. While the legal battle continues, Karnataka’s preparatory work and construction activities related to the Kalasa-Banduri project have become a fresh source of provocation.

Political and Legal Repercussions

Goa CM Pramod Sawant told the Assembly that though the State cannot directly stop Karnataka’s actions occurring within its jurisdiction, it has taken up the matter at the highest levels. “I have met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav personally,” Sawant stated, and added that Goa will now file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, alleging Karnataka’s defiance of the legal process and tribunal status quo.

The Chief Minister’s response was prompted by sharp criticism from opposition MLAs, who accused his government of being ineffective in defending Goa’s water rights and environmental interests.

Ecological Stakes for Goa

Environmentalists warn that the diversion of Mhadei river water could have irreversible consequences for Goa's biodiversity. The river supports the Western Ghats’ delicate ecological balance and is crucial for maintaining forest cover, monsoon-fed agriculture, and the overall hydrological cycle in the region. Reduced downstream flow would also affect Goa's drinking water supply, increase saline water ingress, and harm tourism-related livelihoods.

Way Forward

The contempt petition in the Supreme Court could set a precedent regarding the sanctity of tribunal orders and the responsibility of riparian States to avoid unilateral actions. With the issue assuming larger federal implications, both the judiciary and the Centre may come under pressure to intervene decisively.

The Mhadei conflict thus remains not just a battle over water, but a complex tug-of-war involving ecology, politics, federalism, and the rule of law.

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Summary

  • Goa will file a contempt petition in SC against Karnataka over Mhadei river diversion.

  • The dispute revolves around Kalasa-Banduri Nala project to divert water for Karnataka’s drought-prone areas.

  • Mhadei originates in Karnataka, flows through Goa, and is vital for Goa’s water needs and ecology.

  • The Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal award is currently under challenge in SC by all three States.

  • Goa CM said Karnataka’s actions, though within its territory, defy the legal process.

  • The issue has major ecological and federal implications, especially for Goa’s forests and water supply.

MY NOTES (Login to use)

UPSC Study Guide:

Prelims Focus:

  • River Systems of India: Origin and course of Mhadei/Mandovi River.

  • Water Tribunals: Constitutional provision (Article 262), Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

  • Kalasa-Banduri Project: Key facts and States involved.

Mains Focus:

  • GS-II: Centre-State relations, Inter-State water disputes, Role of Judiciary.

  • GS-III: Conservation of environment, sustainable water use, ecological challenges in Western Ghats.

Sample Mains Question:

 

The Mhadei river dispute underscores the complex challenges of inter-state water sharing in India. Critically examine the role of water tribunals and judiciary in resolving such conflicts, with special reference to ecological concerns in riparian States.

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