Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar has urged the Union Government to intervene immediately following objections raised by Andhra Pradesh against the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam from 519 metres to 524 metres.
Bengaluru, March 3: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar has urged the Union Government to intervene immediately following objections raised by Andhra Pradesh against the proposed increase in the height of the Almatti Dam from 519 metres to 524 metres.
Addressing the media, Shivakumar said Andhra Pradesh has written to the Centre opposing the Gazette notification and questioning land acquisition, even though the matter is already before the Supreme Court. He insisted that the Centre must act in accordance with earlier approvals and tribunal decisions.
₹70,000 Crore Land Acquisition Plan Under Challenge
The Deputy CM revealed that the State Cabinet, on September 16, 2025, had approved acquisition of 1.33 lakh acres in a single phase, with an estimated outlay of ₹70,000 crore in three stages. Compensation between ₹35–40 lakh per acre had been proposed. However, Andhra Pradesh has reportedly objected to the land acquisition process.
He also noted that compensation demands have escalated sharply over the years, with some court orders pushing rates up to ₹1–10 crore per acre in certain cases.
‘Did Not Expect Andhra to Go This Far’
Shivakumar expressed surprise at Andhra Pradesh’s stance, stating that Karnataka has been pressing for notification for over 12 years. A 2010 decision had permitted utilisation of 330 TMC of water, up from 177 TMC.
He further alleged that around 30 TMC of Tungabhadra water is being lost, adding that attempts to discuss solutions at board meetings have not yielded results as Andhra representatives have skipped key discussions.
Centre to Be Pressured in Parliament
With the Lok Sabha session commencing March 10, Shivakumar called upon Karnataka MPs across parties to press the Prime Minister and Union Jal Shakti Minister. He confirmed plans to visit New Delhi during the Budget Session and said an all-party delegation may be formed to safeguard the State’s interests.
₹20,000 Crore Already Spent
According to the Deputy CM, nearly ₹20,000 crore has already been spent on the project over successive governments. He argued that delays or political interference at this stage would severely impact Karnataka’s water security and farmers’ interests.
Legal and Political Tensions
Shivakumar maintained that there is no stay order from the Supreme Court preventing implementation of the height increase. He criticised neighbouring states — Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana — for raising objections despite central committee reports indicating that raising the height to 524 metres would not cause flooding.
He concluded that while personal relationships with leaders such as Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu remain cordial, “state interest comes first.”
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: ಆಲಮಟ್ಟಿ ಎತ್ತರ ಹೆಚ್ಚಳಕ್ಕೆ ಆಂಧ್ರ ಅಡ್ಡಗಾಲು; ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಮಧ್ಯಪ್ರವೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ಡಿ.ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಒತ್ತಾಯ
About the Author
