Almatti Dam Row: 6 Explosive Flashpoints in KWDT-II Dispute

Almatti Dam Dispute / Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II)

The Almatti Dam dispute has resurfaced after Karnataka decided to raise the height of the dam, citing the 2013 Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II (KWDT-II) Award and claiming utilization of excess water flowing into the sea.
Telangana has raised concerns that this could impact irrigation and drinking water availability in its southern districts.

About Almatti Dam:

• Location: North Karnataka, on the Krishna River
• Part of: Upper Krishna Project
• Purpose: Hydroelectric power generation and irrigation
• Full Reservoir Level (FRL): 524.256 meters (original design), capped at 519.6 meters by Supreme Court intervention
• Importance to Telangana: Critical for drinking water and irrigation in districts like Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Ranga Reddy

Key Issues:

• Water Storage: Raising the dam height upstream may reduce Krishna water inflows to Telangana

• Political Sensitivity:

• BRS and BJP criticize Telangana government’s silence
• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has assured “not a drop of Telangana’s share will be compromised”
• MLC K. Kavitha warned of severe water shortages

• Legal Status:

• KWDT-II Award is under stay
• Telangana will present its case before the Supreme Court and may initiate contempt proceedings if necessary
• KWDT-II hearing scheduled for September 23, 2025

Historical Background:

• 1990s-2000s Dispute: Triggered political tensions between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh/Telangana
• 1996 Incident:

• AP Congress leader P. Janardhan Reddy visited Almatti, escalating tensions
• Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP sent delegations to protest Karnataka’s actions
• Led to law-and-order issues in border districts

• Judicial Intervention: Resolved temporarily, but Karnataka’s current move revives old fears

Political Implications:

• Telangana Politics:

• Congress faces pressure from BRS and BJP to act decisively
• With local body elections approaching, water security is highly sensitive

• Inter-state Dynamics:

• Maharashtra has opposed Karnataka’s move, supporting Telangana’s legal position
• Congress must balance legal action and political messaging to reassure citizens

• Public Impact: Millions of farmers and residents rely on Krishna inflows for drinking water and irrigation

Current Situation:

• Karnataka is moving forward with raising the dam height
• Telangana plans to contest legally to safeguard its water share

Heavy rainfall this year has temporarily filled reservoirs and tanks