Source: TOI
Context: Karnataka has proposed raising the Almatti Dam height from 519.60 m to 524.256 m, expanding its capacity from 173 TMC to 300 TMC.
About Almatti Dam:
- What it is?
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- A hydroelectric and irrigation project forming the main reservoir of the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project.
- Commissioned in 2005, with an installed power generation capacity of 290 MW.
- Located in:
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- Bijapur (Vijayapura) district, Karnataka (with submergence in Bagalkot).
- River:
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- Built across the Krishna River, one of South India’s major east-flowing rivers.
- States Involved: Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra (all riparian states of the Krishna basin).
- Features:
- Current gross storage:08 TMC at 519 m MSL.
- Planned expansion: 300 TMC at 524.256 m MSL.
- Downstream release to Narayanpur reservoir for irrigation.
- Major Dams on Krishna River:
- Almatti Dam – Karnataka.
- Narayanpur Dam – Karnataka.
- Srisailam Dam – Andhra Pradesh/Telangana border.
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam – Telangana/Andhra Pradesh.
- Jurala Project (Priyadarshini Dam) – Telangana.
- Pulichintala Project – Andhra Pradesh.
- Prakasam Barrage – Andhra Pradesh.
- Issue:
- AP’s Concerns: Raising Almatti’s capacity and Telangana’s new projects could reduce Krishna water availability to Andhra, the tail-end state.
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- Legal Dispute: Alleged violation of Bachawat Tribunal (KWDT-I) allocations.
- Financial Stakes: Karnataka approved ₹70,000 crore for canals, while Telangana plans 100 TMC diversion for 11.3 lakh acres ayacut.
