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 dam.Addressing 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 districts.In 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 crore.He 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 MPs.The Alamatti Dam, or the Lal Bahadur Shastri Dam, is a key hydroelectric and irrigation project on the Krishna River in Bagalkote district, North Karnataka.Karnataka's 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
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