Mahadayi River

The Madei/ Mandovi/ Mahayadi river is known as the lifeline of Goa because it provides drinking water to almost half of Goa. It rises in Sahyadri mountain range in Karnataka, passes through Maharashtra and then empties in the Arabian Sea at Miramar beach, Panaji, Goa. It is 171 km long and has a catchment area of 2032 sq.km. There are disputes over use of water of the river between Goa and Karnataka for which a Tribunal was constituted and appeal against its order is pending before the Supreme Court.

The river flows through the the biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats creating scenic waterfalls. It sustains people, livelihoods and wildlife. Its basin area hosts various mineral resources and protected areas for the diverse flora and fauna present here.

• Tributaries of the river include Kalasa Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, Andher Nala etc.
• Orographic rainfall due to the Western Ghats is experienced here.
• Important towns on the banks of the river are Belgaum and Panji. They are inhabited by Kumri Marati, Goudas, Konkanis communities.
• Forests: About a third of the land is forested and composed of Evergreen, Semi Evergreen, Moist Deciduous, Scrub, Thorny vegetation.
• Rocks found are granites, schists, shale, quartzite.
• Ores of iron, limestone, bauxite, quartz, sand, clay, lime shell, Manganese, Asbestos, Mica, Lead, Cadmium are found.
• Water Falls: The area which the river passes through has many variations because of which many water falls form like the Doodhsagar falls,Vajra poha falls.
• Animals like the Tiger, Black Panther, Leopard, Bison, Gaur, Hare, Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Deer, Thar, Bonnet Macaque, Lion Tailed Macaque, Giant Squirrel, Hanuman Languor, Wroughton’s Freetailed bat (endemic-endangered), Sambar, Chital, Porcupine, Giant Squirrel, Barking Deer, Mouse Deer are found here. It has various reptiles as well like Snakes (Vipers, Cobra, Rat snake, Crate, King cobra, Python, Wolf snake, Blind snake, Shield tail snake, Boa, Banded kurki, Russel Kurki snake, Flying snake, coral snake, Russel viper, rat snake, etc), Monitor Lizard.
• Athird of the land is under agriculture. Popular crops grown here are Paddy, Sugar cane, Banana, Arecanut, Coconut, Mango, spices, Cashew nut etc.
• Khazan Farming: Is popular in Mahadayi basin where farmland is elevated and protected by bundhs. This allows waterlogged farming ideal for paddy. These are managed by the community and is an integrated agro aqua ecosystem. It involves managing the salinity of the water through creating the embankments/ bundhs.
• Protected Areas: The river nourishes some protected areas where biodiversity thrives:
  • Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary: It is a mangrove habitat on the banks of Madei river. It hosts species like the heron, bittern, jack snipe, fiddler crabs, etc.
  • Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary & International Bird Area: It comprises of the Vagheri hills, Vazra Sakla and Virdi falls created by the Mhadei river. It is a biodiversity hotspot with numerous animals and plants like the black panther, gaur, sloth bear, leopard, slender loris, nilgiri wood-pigeon, glassy tiger butterfly, chafara flower etc. Many sacred groves where the villagers protect biodiversity in name of a local god are also found here.
  • Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary and Mollem National Park: Contains the Dudhsagar & Tambi falls. Here the Dhangar community of buffalo herders are found. It has trees like the hylia and dalbergia. Due to the thick forest canopy here, grass is limited. It hosts 128 species endemic to Western Ghats and India. Many popular birds and animals are found here include the bengal tiger, macaque, flying quirrel, sambar, greater Indian hornbill, Indian black woodpecker, Malabar grey hornbill etc.

• Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal: Was setup in 2002 under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 on request from Goa. The order in 2018 allocated water to Goa, Karnataka & Maharashtra for consumption and power generation purposes. However, this has been challenged by Karnataka and the appeal is pending before the Supreme Court. Post this order, Mahadayi Hydro Power Project was ordered by Karnataka state government to be setup.
• Kalasa- Banduri Nala Project: Project by Karnakata state government to divert water from Mahadayi river through its tributaries Kalasa & Banduri. These two tributaries will be connected with Malaprabha and provide drinking water in North-eastern Karnataka districts. The project has been stalled due to objections by downstream state of Goa and on allegations of environmental impact.
• Mhadei Bachao Andolan: Is an environmental group which seeks to protect the Mhadei river and even got a Supreme Court ‘stay order’ against the construction of Karnataka’s water diversion projects which were going on without the required environmental permits. Further, they that demand checkdams and bundhs be made to secure the water from flowing into the Arabian Sea so that it can be utilised during scare rainfall months of April & May.

The Mahadayi River is more than just a water stream flowing from Maharashtra to the Arabian Sea. It provides electricity, drinking water, nourishment to the forests, agricultural irrigation, waterfalls, community forests and hosts large biodiversity. It is a cultural heritage of the people. The ongoing water dispute between Goa & Karnataka over the proposed Kalasa-Banduri Nala project highlights the need for sustainable water management and a collaborative approach to protecting this shared treasure.