Why is Maharashtra CM Fadnavis objecting to Almatti Dam height increase?

Bengaluru, June 2 (NationPress) Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, who oversees the Water Resources department, has called upon Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from Karnataka to unite for the sake of the state's interests. This plea comes after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed his objection to the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam.

In a media briefing held in Bengaluru on Monday, Deputy CM Shivakumar announced his intention to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers to advocate for this critical issue.

He remarked, "According to the Krishna Tribunal's verdict, it is essential for us to elevate the Almatti Dam to 524 metres in order to fully utilize our state’s water allotment. It is quite surprising that the Maharashtra CM, who previously remained silent during the tribunal's decision, has now initiated correspondence with our Chief Minister to contest this move."

Shivakumar continued, "In light of this, I earnestly request all MPs and Union Ministers to collaborate in advancing this project and safeguarding the rights of our state and its farmers."

Fadnavis had sent a letter to Karnataka's CM Siddaramaiah on May 9, claiming that raising the dam’s height could lead to flooding in Maharashtra’s Sangli and Kolhapur districts, and requested a reevaluation of the decision.

"This letter from Maharashtra’s CM has taken us by surprise. Historically, Maharashtra did not contest this project. They had previously supported the 2010 verdict with an affidavit. The sudden emergence of this letter is perplexing," he stated.

Shivakumar emphasized, "We have the right to this project as per the tribunal’s decision. Our Chief Minister will also respond to this matter shortly. I appeal to all MPs and Union Ministers from our state to stand with us on this issue."

He pointed out, "V. Somanna is part of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Almatti project is vital for our state. We seek to avoid conflicts with our neighboring states. The prolonged delay in this project is resulting in soaring costs. We require ₹1 lakh crore for land acquisition. This project is crucial for us to leverage our water share."

Shivakumar stated, "If Maharashtra experiences floods, they should manage it internally. We must urgently engage with Union Ministers and the Prime Minister to advocate for this matter. A unified voice is essential. We have awaited the Gazette notification for this project since 2013. How much longer must we wait?"

"Our government is prepared to respond whenever required to protect our farmers’ interests. We will disseminate the Maharashtra CM’s letter and our CM’s response to all MPs. Regarding the elevation of the Almatti Dam to 524 metres in accordance with the tribunal's ruling, our Chief Minister and I have met with Union Ministers to request a convening of a meeting and notification issuance," he added.

Shivakumar mentioned, "The Union Ministers have acknowledged our request and set a date for the meeting. However, just as I was about to attend, I received a notification that it had been postponed. I speculated it might be due to a tense atmosphere."

When questioned about the political implications of the Maharashtra CM’s letter, Shivakumar refrained from speculating, stating, "I will focus solely on our state's interests. Our primary concern is to implement the project to secure our rightful water share. I do not wish to politicize this matter. I urge all involved, including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, to take their share of water while we claim our rightful allocation."

On the scientific basis of their objection, he stated, "None. The verdict was issued after thorough discussions regarding their objections in the tribunal. We are now awaiting only the Central Government’s notification."

The Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, commonly known as Almatti Dam, is a hydroelectric project situated on the Krishna River in Vijayapura district of north Karnataka. Originally, the Supreme Court of India limited the full reservoir level of the Almatti Dam.

The Krishna River dispute involving Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra was settled by the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal, which authorized the dam's height to be increased to 524 metres. This elevation would enable the dam to store nearly 200 TMC of water. Currently, the dam stands at 519.26 metres.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to raising the Almatti Dam from its present height of 519.6 metres to 524.26 metres to support the completion of the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP).

CM Siddaramaiah also mentioned the necessity to acquire 1,33,867 acres of land for this project, including areas that would be submerged as well as land for rehabilitation and canal construction. So far, 28,967 acres have been acquired.