In a relief to Karnataka, the Supreme Court, on Monday, allowed the state government to file a fresh petition with the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, according to media reports.
The Karnataka government had filed a special leave petition with the SC, as the tribunal had, in July 2016, dismissed its petition to release 7 TMC of water for the Kalasa-Banduri nala drinking water project.
The Supreme Court asked the Karnataka government to submit latest and accurate data in its new petition to the tribunal, the reports stated.
The petition was filed in the Supreme Court after an all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, following the tribunal’s order.
The state’s leaders had also urged the central government to resolve the dispute and the CM had reiterated the request during his meeting with PM Modi last week.
The Karnataka government had sought an interim award to divert 7 TMC of water from the Mahadayi tributaries Kalasa and Banduri to the Malaprabha river for meeting drinking water requirements of the Mumbai-Karnataka region.
The tribunal had rejected the plea saying that other states too have a claim on the river. Goa had said that the project could harm the Western Ghats.
The verdict was followed by widespread protests across the state and demonstrations had turned violent in Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadg and Haveri districts.
The Mahadayi river flows into Goa from Karnataka on the west coast into the Arabian Sea. Goa has been objecting to sharing the water as 52 km of the river flows within the state and is a lifeline for its people.