Mondovi/Mahadayi River, Karnataka
The Sahyadris or the Western Ghats is a major mountain range of the world that runs 1,600 km N-S
forming the "girdle of the earth" and is the most important feature of the landscape of the southern
peninsula of India. It has been classified as a "Global Biodiversity Hotspot" which is under constant
threat due to human pressure.The well-being of the entire southern peninsula hinges on the
ecological stability of these mountains. And yet, there is a mindless exploitation and wanton
destruction. The rate of forest destruction in the Sahyadris continues at a staggering rate. Tragically
for the country and the region, most of the forest cover in the Western Ghats has disappeared.
The Western Ghats are remarkable headwaters and the main watershed for the southern peninsula
serving six states; sustained by the heavy seasonal rainfall from the south-west monsoon, from which
all the major and many smaller rivers of the southern peninsula originate and flow east or west
emptying into the coastal waters. The real merit of the Western Ghats forests in terms of their
watershed value is incalculable. These forests once destroyed are gone forever. No amount of
scientific knowledge or investment in afforestation can get us back our rivers.
Mahadayi river valley is in the news because of the inter-state water sharing dispute between Karnataka and Goa. The Mahadayi Valley has been facing many threats. Illegal felling of trees and illegal mining has been going on for decades. Large scale plantation of exotic species (acasia & mangium) has also been damaging the ecology of the area.
Mahadayi Valley
The main threat that is now looming over the valley is the Karnataka Government's plans to divert a
large quantum of water from the Mahadayi river and its tributaries to the Malaprabha river basin to
help the acute water scarcity faced by the region in the Malaprabha basin. But as long as the
exploitation of water resources continues in the Malaprabha region, no matter how much water and
from where it is diverted, the Malaprabha valley is likely to face the same situation in the near future.
But the project is far more ambitious. It includes building as many as 11 dams on the Mahadayi and
its tributaries in this small area along with hydroelectric projects. The project appears to aim at
impounding a large portion of waters from the Mahadayi and its tributaries that flows into Goa.
It is estimated that this project will submerge a vast area amounting to about 3,000 hectares; most of
it will be the thick forested area on Karnataka side of the valley. Once these forest are destroyed there will be a drastic change in the ecology of the valley reducing the rainfall, ruining its forests, wildlife,
and all its natural wealth.
The core catchment area of the Mahadayi lies in the heavy rainfall (3800mm-5700 mm per annum) thickly forested, approximately 200 sq. km of mountain topography of Khanapur taluka barely 10 km. upstream of Valpoi in Goa. A very large quantity of water that flows down the Mandovi all the year round originates in the streams and rivulets around Kankumbi, Jamboti, Talewadi, Gavali and Hemadga villages where Karnataka's diversion and hydroelectric dams are to come up. The Mandovi river, Goa's lifeline, faces imminent threat of choking because of the reduction in water flow, siltation and disruption of its ecology due to change in its profile - perhaps being even reduced to a trickle in the summer months.
The Mahadyi River Valley one of the last "Wildernesses" with dense evergreen forests, abundant wildlife, beautiful streams and waterfalls covers an area of 750 sq km and is comparable to the Silent Valley(89.5 sq. km.) in Kerala in its wealth of biodiversity but much larger in area.
Mahadayi - "the Great Mother Goddess"
In India, its mountains, rivers , trees and animals are honoured and revered more than any other nation in the world, seeing these objects as manifest divine creations. The rivers, especially are considered manifest forms of divine female powers that have descended from heaven. "Ganga Jal" is revered with implicit faith as an essential element of one's salvation. "Ganga" in popular speech is used to describe any river since she is the Bhagirathi brought down to earth and could be received only by Lord Shiva and she is the mistress of all as in her they must all unite. The Mahadayi river originates in Khanapur taluka of Belgaum district of Karnataka on the eastern slopes of the Sahyadris and flows west meeting the Arabian Sea near Panaji in Goa. But for the people of Khanapur and the eastern taluka of Sattari in Goa, She is the MAHADAYI - "the Great Mother Goddess" as the name itself implies. The number of ancient carved images found scattered at Amgaon and Parvada in Khanapur Taluka and Sattari taluka of Goa at Caranzol, Savarde, Kodal, Rivem, Irvem, etc. represents the cult of the Mother Goddess worship on the banks of the Madei. The river Mahadayi becomes Madei in Sattari taluka of Goa and after the river Khandepar joins it at Bembol the river is called the Mandovi.
Like most monsoon-fed rivers, the Mahadayi also undergoes bewildering transformation during her seasons; slack, limpid pools of winter, partially dry beds of summer turning to fearsome torrents during the monsoons, submerging everything in its way and awesome in her destructive potential.
Degaon in Khanapur Taluka - the birth place of the Mahadayi river
The Mahadayi river originates in the Western Ghats of Khanapur taluka, Belgaum district, Karnataka.
As the streams of the Sahyadris go, the west- flowing streams are short, swift-flowing, and plunge
over precipitous escarpments to discharge their waters into the Arabian Sea. As they plunge towards
the coastal strip, they pass through deep gorges creating spectacular waterfalls. The Mahadayi river
follows this pattern and is a comparatively small stream with a total length of just about 87 km.- 35
km. in Karnataka and 52 km. in Goa.
The Mahadayi rises on the eastern slopes of the Sahyadri's crestline near Degaon village. The origin
of the Mahadayi is a multitude of streams from within the fan shaped surrounding hills capped by
dense, pristine forests. It flows eastward for a short distance and then loops into an arc around the
ridges and turns westward across the crestline into Goa. Both, the Malaprabha and the Mahadayi run
parallel to each other for some distance but flow in the opposite directions. Between the Malaprabha
river at Kankumbi in the north, Khanapur to the east, Anmod ghat on the Goa highway to the south
and Molem/Madei wildlife sanctuaries across the crestline in Goa to the west, the Mahadayi valley
with its luxurious forest covers an area of approximately 750 sq. km. The valley is studded with
graceful peaks, deep gorges, thick pristine monsoon forests and flat terraces of paddy fields at the
bottom.
As many as 75 big and small streams join the Mahadayi at various stages increasing its volume and velocity. The main tributaries of the Mahadayi in the upper and middle catchment areas in Karnataka are small streams of an average length of 5 to 10 km. and as one follows the flow, they are: Right Bank: Bhandura Nala near Kongla, Singar Nala, Doli Nala, Kotni Nala, Irti Nala, Bail Nadi. Left Bank: Pansheer Nala, Madhuhalla Nala. These two streams arise on the crest line astride Talewadi and rush down on either side of the Barapedi caves within a km of each other near Krishnapur in the lower loop.
Courtesy: Mr. Mohan Pai