The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal headed by Justice J M Panchal on Monday agreed to expedite the hearing of the water dispute among Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
Accepting the plea made by Karnataka, the tribunal, in its order said “the proceedings will completed at a fast pace and also as soon as possible”.
Requesting early hearing of the matter, Nishanth Patil, the advocate-on-record for Karnataka submitted that the state had been reeling under severe drought condition which may recur in succeeding years.
Karnataka, in its original application, had sought 24.1 tmc feet of water from Mahadayi basin of which 7.5 tmc feet is meant for drinking water in Malaprabha basin area - mainly Hubballi-Dharwad and nearby towns; 7 tmc feet for irrigation; 5 tmc feet for hydro electric generation and 1.5 tmc feet for drinking water to Khanapur in Belagavi district.
In its interim application, Karnataka had sought permission to draw 7.5 tmc feet of water for Malaprabha basin, till the resolution of the dispute.
Last week, the Tribunal had expressed its unhappiness against Karnataka over its (Karnataka’s) letter seeking early hearing of water dispute. The letter had cited the hearing dates of Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal.
Apparently upset at comparing the Mahadayi tribunal with the functions of Krishna tribunal, the members of Mahadayi tribunal had returned Karnataka’s letter.
Karnataka Advocate General Madhusudan Nayak and Nishanth Patil later apologised for sending the letter.
Following this incident, Karnataka filed fresh application before the Tribunal on April 30 seeking early hearing, and which was accepted by it.
In 2002, the Centre gave clearance to Karnataka to divert 7.5 tmc feet of water from Mahadayi by building barrages across Kalasa and Banduri, (two tributaries of Mahadayi) and supply water to Malaprabha river.
The river provides drinking water to Hubballi-Dharwad cities and Belagavi and Gadag districts.
However, the project was stalled after Goa raised objections saying that it would lead to drying up of its lifeline Mandovi river - called as Mahadayi in Karnataka.
The Ministry of Water Resources constituted the tribunal to resolve the issue in 2010.