Goa CM’s Mahadayi Project Remarks Spark Outrage: H.K. Patil

Quick Summary

• Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil expressed shock over Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement that the Central government will not approve Karnataka’s Mahadayi project.
• Mr. Patil criticized the Center, calling its stance “stepmotherly” towards Karnataka and alleging that it obstructs legally and constitutionally protected projects of the state.
• The Mahadayi project aims to address drinking water needs in North Karnataka, particularly Hubballi-Dharwad and surrounding towns.
• Goa has consistently opposed Karnataka’s Kalasa-Banduri projects in the Mahadayi basin, while a 2018 tribunal awarded 13.42 tmcft water to Karnataka, 1.33 tmcft to Maharashtra, and 24 tmcft to Goa-a decision notified by the Union government in 2020.
• Despite repeated requests from Karnataka for clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), no decisions have been made despite multiple meetings.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The disagreement surrounding the Mahadayi river project reflects broader challenges in managing shared water resources between states within India’s federal structure. While Mr. Patil has emphasized legal protections underpinning Karnataka’s claims, Goa’s opposition demonstrates how inter-state disputes can stall critical infrastructure growth despite tribunal rulings intended to resolve such issues.

For North Karnataka residents reliant on this project’s implementation for basic needs like drinking water, delays exacerbate long-standing resource inequities between regions within states themselves. This controversy also raises questions about effective federal mediation mechanisms; balancing ecological concerns with equitable access is pivotal here.

The Centre’s prolonged indecision via NBWL further complicates matters-highlighting potential inefficiencies or political undercurrents influencing decision-making processes on sensitive inter-state issues.

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