Tension Rises Over Almatti Dam Height Increase: BRS Leader KT Rama Rao Slams Karnataka Move
Hyderabad, Telangana: The recent Karnataka government decision to raise the Almatti Dam height has sparked fresh outrage in Telangana. BRS working president KT Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, hit out at the plan on Friday, warning that it could rob Telangana of its rightful share of Krishna river waters. He called on the Telangana government to jump into legal action right away to protect the state’s interests.
KTR didn’t hold back, pointing fingers at Congress leaders in both states. "If they don’t act fast, we’ll hold Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy responsible," he said. With Congress running governments in Telangana and Karnataka, KTR demanded quick answers from the top brass.
Speaking to , KTR explained why this Almatti Dam issue hits so hard. "This has been an emotional battle for decades, even back in united Andhra Pradesh days. Telangana has always gotten a raw deal on Krishna and Godavari rivers – our lifelines for farming and daily life." He highlighted Karnataka’s cabinet nod to lift the dam from 519 feet to 524 feet, plus a massive Rs 70,000 crore spend to grab 1,30,000 acres of land.
"We’ve protested this for years, and now Telangana must challenge it in court without wasting time," KTR urged. His sharp words underline the long-standing water dispute between the two states, a hot topic in South India politics.
Karnataka’s Big Push for Upper Krishna Project Phase 3
On the other side, Karnataka is moving full steam ahead with its Upper Krishna Project. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who handles irrigation, shared details after a special cabinet meeting in Bengaluru on September 16. The goal? Speed up land acquisition for phase 3 and avoid more delays.
Shivakumar announced generous compensation to win over farmers: Rs 40 lakh per acre for irrigated land, Rs 30 lakh for dry land, and Rs 25 lakh for canal areas. "We talked it over with local leaders, farmers, and ministers to make it fair," he said. This applies only to lands under Krishna Bhagya Jal Nigama for the project.
The total cost for compensation? A whopping Rs 70,000 crore. Karnataka plans to wrap up the acquisition in three years by buying directly from willing farmers. Shivakumar noted land prices are skyrocketing in the region, so they bumped up the rates from the previous government’s offers of Rs 24 lakh for irrigated and Rs 20 lakh for dry land. Back then, farmers rejected it, stalling progress despite a sub-committee.
This phase needs 1,33,867 acres in total – 75,563 acres will go underwater, 51,837 for canals, and 6,467 for rehabbing displaced folks. They’ll follow the 2013 Land Acquisition Act strictly. About 20,000 ongoing disputes? Those will head to arbitration. Undisputed lands get snapped up directly to keep things moving.
The Almatti Dam height hike and Upper Krishna Project land acquisition are stirring up the Krishna water sharing debate once more. As Telangana gears up for a legal fight, all eyes are on how these neighboring states resolve their water woes. Stay tuned for updates on this key Telangana-Karnataka water dispute.
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