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Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Union Ministers, MPs must safeguard state's interests: DKS
Bengaluru: In view of Maharashtra CM raising objection to increasing height of Alamatti dam, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday called upon the Union Ministers and MPs from Karnataka to safeguard state's interests. 'As per the Krishna Tribunal's order, Karnataka can increase the height of Alamatti dam to 524 meters. Maharashtra, which was quiet when the order was pronounced, has suddenly written a letter to our CM objecting to it. I appeal to all the Union Ministers and MPs with folded hands to protect state's interest in this,' the DCM, who also handles Irrigation portfolio, said addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha. 'Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to our CM Siddaramaiah on May 9 raising objection to increasing the height of Alamatti dam. Stating that Sangli and Kolhapur districts would face flooding if the height of the dam is raised, the letter has asked for re-evaluating the plan. This letter is a shock to us. Maharashtra had never raised objection to this project till now. They had not raised any issues when the Tribunal passed its judgement in 2010. Maharashtra had even submitted an affidavit to the Tribunal seeking increasing Alamatti height but it is opposing it all of a sudden. 'This project is our right accorded by the Krishna Tribunal. Our CM will give a reply to the letter by the Maharashtra CM. Union Minister V Somanna is part of Union Jal Shakthi ministry. Alamatti project is needed for the state, we don't want friction with our neighbouring state. The cost escalation is very due to delay in this project. We would need Rs 1 lakh crore for land acquisition for this project,' he said. 'Flooding in Maharashtra is their internal matter and they need to fix it. We will meet the PM and the Union Jal Shakthi Minister and put pressure regarding this. Karnataka has been waiting for a Gazette notification for increasing Alamatti height since 2013. How long should we wait? We will share the letter from Maharashtra CM and our reply to that to all our MPs.' Asked if Maharashtra CM's letter has a political motive, he said, 'I don't want to get into that now, I will only speak for our state's interest. There is no scientific basis for the letter. Increasing Alamatti dam is our right and we appeal to all parties concerned to let us execute the project.'
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar urges Centre's support as Maharashtra objects to Alamatti dam height increase
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 2 (ANI): After the Maharashtra government raised objections to increasing the height of the Alamatti dam, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday appealed to Union Ministers and MPs from Karnataka to safeguard the state's interests. While addressing a press conference at Vidhana Soudha, DK Shivakumar said, 'As per the Krishna Tribunal's order, Karnataka can increase the height of the Alamatti dam to 524 meters. Maharashtra, who was quiet when the order was pronounced, suddenly wrote a letter to our CM objecting to it. I appeal to all the Union Ministers and MPs with folded hands to protect the state's interest in this.' Shivakumar said that Fadnavis wrote a letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on May 9 stating that the Sangli and Kolhapur districts would face flooding if the dam's height is raised. He added, 'Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to our CM Siddaramaiah on May 9, raising objections to increasing the height of the Alamatti dam. Stating that Sangli and Kolhapur districts would face flooding if the dam's height is raised, the letter has asked for the re-evaluation of the plan. This letter is a shock to us. Maharashtra had never objected to this project till now. They had not raised any issues when the Tribunal passed its judgement in 2010. Maharashtra had even submitted an affidavit to the Tribunal seeking to increase the height, but it is opposing it all of a sudden.' He said that CM Siddaramaiah will reply to the Maharashtra CM's letter. 'This project is our right, as accorded by the Krishna Tribunal. Our CM will give a reply to the letter from the Maharashtra CM. Union Minister V Somanna is part of Union Jal Shakthi ministry. Alamatti project is needed for the state, we don't want friction with our neighbouring state. The cost escalation is very due to delay in this project. We would need Rs 1 lakh crore for land acquisition for this project,' he said. Shivakumar said that Karnataka has been waiting for a Gazette notification to increase the height of Alamatti since 2013 'Flooding in Maharashtra is their internal matter, and they need to fix it. We will meet the PM and the Union Jal Shakthi Minister and put pressure regarding this. Karnataka has been waiting for a Gazette notification for increasing the height of Alamatti since 2013. How long should we wait? We will share the letter from the Maharashtra CM and our reply to that with all our MPs,' Shivakumar said. (ANI)
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
DK Shivakumar seeks Centre's help as Maharashtra opposes dam height increase
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday appealed to Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from the state to stand united in safeguarding Karnataka's interests, after Maharashtra raised objections to the proposed increase in the height of the Alamatti reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar, who also holds the Irrigation portfolio, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had written a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on May 9, warning that raising the dam height could cause flooding in Maharashtra's Sangli and Kolhapur a post on X, Shivakumar wrote, 'We do not seek confrontation with our neighbouring state. But we must assert what is legally and justly ours.' advertisement'This letter came as a shock to us,' Shivakumar said. 'Maharashtra had not raised any objection when the Krishna Tribunal passed its judgement in 2010. In fact, they had even submitted an affidavit seeking an increase in the height of the Alamatti dam. Why this sudden change in stand?'The Krishna Tribunal's verdict allows Karnataka to increase the dam's height to 524 meters. Shivakumar insisted that the state has full rights to implement the project and said further delays would escalate costs, particularly land acquisition, which he pegged at Rs 1 lakh appealed to all Karnataka MPs and Union Ministers to unite in support of the project. 'I fold my hands and appeal to all our MPs, regardless of party lines, to protect the state's interest. Union Minister V Somanna is part of the Jal Shakti Ministry and I hope he will represent our concerns.'advertisementShivakumar also said the Karnataka government would soon meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Jal Shakti Minister to press for a Gazette notification, pending since 2013, allowing the increase in dam height.'This is not a political issue. There is no scientific basis to Maharashtra's objections. Flooding in their region is for them to resolve. Karnataka has waited long enough,' Shivakumar said, adding that the state will share both Maharashtra's letter and its reply with all Karnataka Alamatti Dam, or the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, is a key hydroelectric and irrigation project on the Krishna River in Bagalkote district, North proposal to raise the dam height from 519 to 524.2 metres would create an additional storage capacity of 100 tmcft and expand irrigation coverage by 6 lakh hectares. But it faces key challenges, including submersion of a considerable portion of the Bagalkot town. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Maharashtra
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
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.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Almatti Dam height row: Maha CM's objection shocking, says Dy CM; urges K'taka MPs, Union Ministers to unite
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, has appealed to Union Ministers and Members of Parliament from the state to come together to protect the state's interests, following Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' objection to increasing the height of the Almatti Dam Dam. Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Monday, Deputy CM Shivakumar also stated that he would meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers to exert pressure on the issue. "As per the Krishna Tribunal's award, we need to increase the height of the Almatti Dam to 524 metres to utilise our state's share of water. It's deeply surprising that the Maharashtra Chief Minister, who remained silent when the tribunal's verdict was issued, has now suddenly written a letter to the Karnataka Chief Minister objecting to this," stated Dy CM Shivakumar. He added, "In this context, I humbly request all MPs and Union Ministers to cooperate in implementing the project and safeguarding the interests of the state and its farmers." "Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote a letter to our CM Siddaramaiah on May 9. In the letter, he stated that increasing the dam's height would cause flooding in Maharashtra's Sangli and Kolhapur districts and requested a reconsideration of the decision," he stated. "This letter from the Maharashtra CM has shocked us. Previously, Maharashtra had never raised objections regarding this project. Maharashtra never questioned the 2010 verdict. Maharashtra had even submitted an affidavit supporting the implementation of this project. But now, they've suddenly written this letter," he said. "This project is a right we have received through the tribunal. Our CM will also write a letter within a day or two. I humbly request all MPs and Union Ministers elected from our state to cooperate with us on this matter," Shivakumar reiterated. "V. Somanna is part of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The Almatti project is in our state's interest. We don't want conflicts with neighbouring states. The delay in this project is causing an excessive increase in project costs. Rs 1 lakh crore is needed for land acquisition for the project. This project is crucial for us to utilise our share of water," Shivakumar emphasised. "If they face floods in their state (Maharashtra), they should resolve it internally. We need to meet Union Ministers and the Prime Minister to exert pressure on this matter. We must speak with a united voice on this issue. We've been waiting for the Gazette notification for this project since 2013. How much longer should we wait?" he questioned. "Our government is ready to come wherever and whenever you call us to protect the interests of our farmers. We will send the letter from the Maharashtra CM and our CM's reply to all MPs. Regarding the project to raise the Almatti Dam to 524 metres to receive our share of water as per the tribunal's verdict, the Chief Minister and I had met with Union Ministers. We had requested them to convene a meeting and issue a notification," he said. "The Union Ministers considered our request and scheduled a date for the meeting. So, I called an internal meeting with ministers, legal experts, and MLAs from that region to seek their advice. Just as I was about to leave for the meeting, I received a message that it had been postponed. I assumed it might have been postponed due to a wartime atmosphere," he stated. When asked if there was politics behind the Maharashtra CM's letter, Shivakumar replied, "I will not comment on whether this matter is political or not. I will only speak about our state's interest. For us, the only important thing is the implementation of the project to use our rightful share of water. I will not politicise this issue. I appeal to everyone involved, including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, to take your share of water and let us take our rightful share." When asked what scientific basis their objection had, he said, "Nothing. The verdict was given only after their objections were discussed in the tribunal. Now, only the Central Government's notification remains." The Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, also known as Almatti Dam is a hydroelectric project on the Krishna River in Vijayapura district of north Karnataka. The full reservoir level of Almatti dam was originally restricted by the Supreme Court of India. The Krishna River conflict between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra was resolved by the Brijesh Kumar Tribunal and the dam was authorised to be raised to the height of 524 metres. This increase in height would allow the dam to store nearly 200 TMC. The present height of the dam is 519.26 metres. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced that his government was committed to increasing the height of the Almatti dam from the present 519.6 metres to 524.26 metres to help complete the third phase of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP). CM Siddaramaiah had also stated that said there was a need to acquire 1,33,867 acres of land for the project, including land that would be submerged and land for rehabilitation and building canals. Of this, 28,967 acres had been acquired so far, he added.
