Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal delivered its final verdict to ending 50-year-old dispute over sharing of Mahadayi or Mandovi River between Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

• The tribunal was constituted in November 2010 under Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 to resolve water sharing dispute between riparian states.
• Mahadayi River (also spelt Mahadeyi or Mhadei, and called Mandovi in Goa) rises in Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Ghats, in Khanapur taluk of Belagavi district in Karnataka.
• It flows in westerly direction, entering Goa in Sattari taluk of North Goa district. It is joined by number of streams along it course, growing in volume to become Mandovi (one of Goa’s two major rivers), before emptying itself into Arabian Sea at Panaji. About two-thirds (76 km) of Mahadayi’s 111-km stretch lies in Goa and remaining 35 km is in Karnataka and Maharashtra.
• Mahadayi River is lifeline of Goa because it is one of few sweet-water sources at state’s disposal (most of Goa’s 11 rivers contain salt water).
• It also important for Goa’s water security, ecology, and is important source of its staple diet of fish.
• The tribunal has pegged Karnataka’s access to 13.4 tmc of Mahadayi River water for its consumptive use (5.4 tmc) and power generation (8.02 tmc).
• Goa was allowed to use 24 tmc for state’s municipal water needs, irrigation water requirements and industrial water demands.
• Maharashtra was awarded lowest share of 1.33 tmc for meeting its in-basin needs with respect to five projects. It also directed Central Government to set up Mahadayi Water Management Authority to implement its report and final decision.