Once again, anger over Almatti, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• Karnataka decided to raise the height of the Almatti Dam, sparking concerns in Telangana regarding irrigation impacts.
• The dam is part of the Upper Krishna Project and is a hydroelectric and irrigation facility on the Krishna River.
• Telangana, as a lower riparian state, relies on Krishna flows for drinking water and irrigation in its southern districts.
• BRS has criticized Telangana's Chief Minister for his silence on the Almatti Dam issue.
• Telangana plans to present its case before the Supreme Court and may initiate contempt proceedings.
• The Irrigation Minister is scheduled to attend the KWDT-II hearing on September 23.

Detailed Insights:

• The Almatti Dam dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana) dates back to the late 1990s.
• Karnataka claims the height increase aligns with the 2013 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) Award and utilizes excess water.
• The dam's original design had a Full Reservoir Level of 524.256 metres, but it was capped at 519.6 metres following Supreme Court intervention.
• Telangana fears raising the dam's storage will reduce water availability for projects like the Palmuru–Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme.
• Memories of past droughts make water a sensitive issue for farmers in Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Ranga Reddy, and surrounding areas.
• The Congress government in Telangana faces potential backlash in upcoming local body elections if it fails to defend the state's interests.
• Maharashtra has formally opposed Karnataka’s move, adding weight to Telangana’s argument against raising the dam's height.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Riparian Rights: Rights of those who live on the bank of a river or stream to use it.
• Water Disputes Tribunal: A tribunal to adjudicate disputes regarding inter-state rivers and river valleys.
• Full Reservoir Level (FRL): The maximum height to which water can be stored in a reservoir.