Krishna water crisis looms over Telangana as Karnataka approves move to raise Almatti Dam height

Karnataka’s decision to raise the Almatti Dam height threatens irrigation projects across Telangana, risking severe water shortage in 27.4 lakh acres of farmland. Telangana leaders warn the move violates court orders, with political opposition demanding urgent action to safeguard riparian rights

Hyderabad: The Karnataka Cabinet’s decision on September 17 to raise the Almatti Dam’s height from 519.6 metres to 524.25 metres has sparked alarm in Telangana, threatening water availability for critical irrigation projects. The move, part of Karnataka’s Upper Krishna Project Phase-3, will boost the dam’s storage capacity from 123.08 TMC to nearly 200 TMC, potentially reducing downstream flow to Telangana by 100-130 TMC. This has raised fears of severe water shortages, particularly in non-monsoon seasons, endangering agriculture across 27.4 lakh acres in Telangana’s southern districts, including Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy and Nalgonda.

The Almatti Dam on the Krishna river in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district is at the centre stage of a long-standing inter-state water dispute. Karnataka claims the height increase aligns with the 2013 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) award and utilises “excess water flowing into the sea”. However, Telangana, a lower riparian State, argues it violates riparian rights and a 2013 Supreme Court stay, initiated by undivided Andhra Pradesh and continued by Telangana in 2014. The issue remains sub-judice, complicating Karnataka’s plans to acquire 1.33 lakh acres of land at a cost of Rs 70,000 crore, submerging 20 villages.

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Telangana’s irrigation projects face dire consequences. The Nettempadu project irrigating 2.5 lakh acres and Palamuru-Rangareddy (5 lakh acres) rely on lift irrigation for drought-prone areas, while Kalwakurthy (3.5 lakh acres) and Srisailam Left Bank Canal (5 lakh acres) support flood canals and major networks. The Dindi (1.5 lakh acres) and Rajolibanda (2 lakh acres) projects, the latter a joint venture with Andhra Pradesh, are also at risk. Critics warn that reduced water flow could spell doom for Krishna Basin agriculture, adding to scarcity in low-rain years.

Politically, the decision has ignited tensions in Telangana. The ruling Congress government has drawn heavy flak with opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders, including B Vinod Kumar, demanding a contempt petition in the Supreme Court and an all-party meeting. Party working president KT Rama Rao called it a “death warrant for Telangana farmers”, contrasting Revanth Reddy’s inaction with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis’ swift objection. As Telangana prepares for KWDT-II hearings later this month, the demand is getting louder for urgent steps to safeguard its water rights before Karnataka’s land acquisition advances, potentially locking in the project’s implementation.

Inter-state water dispute

• Karnataka all set to raise Almatti Dam’s height to 524.25 m, increasing storage to 200 TMC, cutting Telangana’s water by 100-130 TMC
• Telangana’s 27.4 lakh acres across Nettempadu, Palamuru-Rangareddy, Kalwakurthy, Srisailam, Dindi and Rajolibanda face severe water shortage risks
• BRS slams Revanth Reddy’s silence, demands Supreme Court contempt petition; calls it a death warrant for farmers
• The move violates a 2013 Supreme Court stay, escalating tensions with riparian States pending KWDT-II hearings