In a significant development in the long-standing Mahadayi River dispute, the Centre has granted a six-month extension to the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal for the submission of its final report. According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the tribunal now has additional time to finalize its findings.
The Mahadayi River dispute, involving the states of Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, has been ongoing for decades, with the three states frequently at odds over water-sharing arrangements. Established on November 16, 2010, under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956, the tribunal was originally given a three-year timeframe to deliver its decision by November 15, 2013.
However, the tribunal requested its first extension by noting its actual effective functioning date as August 21, 2013, a request approved by the Central Government. Since then, the tribunal has received multiple extensions, reflecting the complexity and evolving nature of the dispute.
In August 2018, the tribunal initially submitted its report and findings. However, additional references and applications from Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and the Central Government necessitated further detailed deliberations. Consequently, the tribunal was required to produce another comprehensive report within a year.
The latest request for an extension by the tribunal sought an additional year, beginning February 16, 2025, to complete its deliberations comprehensively. The Centre, however, decided to grant a shorter extension period of six months, highlighting the urgent necessity for the tribunal to conclude its findings and present the final decision promptly.
This extension follows a previous 180-day extension provided in August 2024, emphasizing the prolonged and contentious nature of the Mahadayi water-sharing issue.
The final report by the tribunal is highly anticipated by all involved states, as it is expected to provide clarity and resolution to a dispute that has seen prolonged negotiations and intermittent legal challenges for over a decade.