Height of Almatti Dam Should Not Be Increased: CM Devendra Fadnavis Writes to Central Government

The Karnataka government has proposed to increase the reservoir level of Almatti Dam on the Krishna River from 519.6 meters to 524.256 meters, which could severely impact the regions of Sangli, Kolhapur, and the Krishna basin in Maharashtra. Against this backdrop, Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written a letter to the Union Minister of Water Resources, C.R. Patil.

In this letter, Fadnavis has clarified that increasing the height of the dam will increase the risk of flooding due to backwater. The direct consequence of this water is that a large amount of silt accumulates in the riverbeds, reducing the capacity to carry water. As a result, it takes longer for floodwaters to recede, and the flood situation becomes more severe. In recent years, Sangli and Kolhapur districts have been repeatedly flooded, affecting hundreds of villages, agriculture, and the local economy.

Fadnavis mentioned in the letter that the Maharashtra government has entrusted the National Institute of Hydrology in Roorkee to study the potential flood situation arising from Almatti's water. This study will be conducted using simulation and hydrodynamics methods. However, until then, it would be inappropriate to make any decision regarding the height of the dam.

Due to the increase in the height of the dam, not only will the flood risk increase, but the lives, property, and agriculture of thousands of citizens will also be endangered. Therefore, the Karnataka government should immediately halt this decision, as firmly urged by Chief Minister Fadnavis to the central government. He has also requested the central government to intervene for the safety of the citizens in the Krishna basin.