Karnataka seethes as Maharashtra opposes Almatti dam project; Deputy CM Shivakumar says will petition PM Modi, Union ministers
Increasing the height of the Almatti dam, built across the Krishna River in the Bagalkot district, has become the subject of a flashpoint between Karnataka and its northern neighbour, Maharashtra, after the latter raised objections over the project for the first time.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said the opposition to the project was 'shocking' and the state government would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil regarding the issue.
As per the Krishna Tribunal order, Karnataka can increase the height of the Alamatti dam from the existing 519.6 to 524.256 metre. 'Maharashtra, which was quiet when the order was pronounced, has suddenly written a letter to our CM objecting to it,' he said. In the letter, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his opposition to the project, saying that increasing the height would cause flooding in the upstream areas of Sangli and Kolhapur districts in Maharashtra.
The final verdict of the Krishna Tribunal in 2013 allowed Karnataka to use 173 TMC of water, apart from allocations to Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. However, a gazette notification regarding the same is yet to be issued.
On May 5 this year, Union Minister Patil had cancelled an appointment with Shivakumar – who was in Delhi to press for the notification – at the last minute. 'Days later, on May 9, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah received the letter from Fadnavis,' the Karnataka Deputy CM said.
'The Maharashtra government had even submitted an affidavit to the Tribunal seeking an increase in Almatti height, but is opposing it all of a sudden, now,' Shivakumar told a news conference.
Delaying the gazette notification, he said, would have an adverse effect on Karnataka on account of cost escalation. According to the minister, the land acquisition cost for the project alone would cost the exchequer Rs 1 lakh crore.
Asked whether the Maharashtra CM's letter was politically motivated, Shivakumar declined to comment, saying that he would only speak for Karnataka's interests. 'There is no scientific basis for the letter (by Fadnavis). Increasing the Alamatti dam is our right,' he said.
Almatti is among the largest dams in the state, providing irrigation to riparian districts such as Belagavi, Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Raichur, among others, in the northern part of Karnataka.
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