Centre Grants Six-Month Extension for Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal

The Centre has extended the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal's deadline by six months to submit its report on water-sharing disputes between Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. Initially formed in 2010, the tribunal has faced multiple extensions due to the complexities of the case. The new deadline starts on August 20, 2024.

The Centre has extended by six months the deadline for the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal to submit its report on water-sharing disputes involving Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra. Initially constituted on November 16, 2010, the tribunal has repeatedly sought extensions due to the complexities of the case. According to an official notification issued on Wednesday, the tribunal will now have an additional 180 days from August 20, 2024, to finalise and submit its report.

Under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956, the tribunal was initially required to submit its report within three years of formation. However, the intricacies of the case and requests from the tribunal have led to multiple deadline extensions.

The tribunal's initial report was submitted on August 14, 2018. However, further references from the states involved necessitated additional deliberation time. This has resulted in multiple extensions granted by the Centre to fully address these references.

Originating in Karnataka, the Mahadayi river flows through Goa and Maharashtra before emptying into the Arabian Sea. The dispute over water rights has caused long-standing tension among the three states as each asserts its need for drinking water, irrigation, and power generation.

(With inputs from agencies.)