Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji/New Delhi

Panaji/New Delhi: The Union Government has informed Karnataka that it will not process the pending forest and wildlife clearances for the proposed Mhadei river water diversion project until the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict on the long-running interstate river dispute.

The decision effectively stalls progress on the Kalasa and Banduri diversion projects, through which Karnataka plans to divert water from the Mhadei basin to the Malaprabha river to augment drinking water supply in several water-scarce districts of the state.

According to the Centre, granting mandatory environmental and wildlife approvals while the dispute remains under judicial consideration would be inappropriate. Consequently, the clearance process will remain on hold until the apex court rules on the legal challenges related to the award of the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal.

The latest development is another setback for Karnataka, which has long argued that the project is vital to meeting the drinking water requirements of northern Karnataka, where several districts regularly face acute water shortages.

Goa, however, has consistently opposed the diversion, contending that reducing the natural flow of the Mhadei river would adversely affect the state's ecology, environment and long-term water security.

The Mhadei is the principal source of the Mandovi River, one of Goa's most significant waterways, supporting drinking water supply, agriculture, fisheries, biodiversity, inland navigation and tourism.

The coastal state has also maintained that the river basin lies within the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats and has warned that diverting water could cause irreversible environmental damage. Goa has repeatedly challenged approvals linked to the project before the Supreme Court and has insisted that all environmental safeguards be strictly enforced.

Although the Mhadei Water Disputes Tribunal allocated water shares among Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra, all three states have approached the Supreme Court seeking modifications to different aspects of the Tribunal's award. Those appeals are still pending before the apex court.

With the Union Government making the grant of statutory clearances contingent on the Supreme Court's final decision, Karnataka's proposed water diversion project will remain in limbo, while Goa has welcomed the move as consistent with its demand that no further approvals be issued until the legal dispute is conclusively resolved.