Lok Sabha Question No. 56 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Almatti Dam
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Vishaldada Prakashbapu Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *56

ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

## ALMATTI DAM

## *56. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

- (a) whether various States have raised objections to the height of the Almatti dam and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  an  inter-State  technical  team  has  been  constituted  to  study  the  same  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether any steps are proposed to be taken to reduce the height of the Almatti dam to avoid inter-State submersions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI C R PAATIL)

- (a) to (d) : A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. *56 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025 IN LOK SABHA REGARDING 'ALMATTI DAM'

(a) to (d) The height of the Almatti dam, as originally envisaged was with the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of 524.256  m.  However,  under  the  directions  of  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India,  Government  of  India conditionally  cleared  the  Upper  Krishna  Project  Stage-II  (which  consists  of  Almatti  Dam)  on  31.05.2000  for FRL of 519.6 m for utilization of 173 TMC of water. State of Karnataka had installed the radial gates to store water in the Almatti Dam up to FRL 524.256 m which was cut to lower its height i.e. FRL 519.6 m, at which the Almatti Dam is presently operating.

Further,  during  the  hearing  of  the  Krishna  Water  Dispute  Tribunal-II  (KWDT-II)  constituted  under section 5(2) of the Inter State River Water Dispute (ISRWD) Act, 1956, the State Governments of Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh refused to agree to the raising of the height of Almatti Dam from 519.6 m to 524.256 m as proposed and planned by the State of Karnataka. State of Maharashtra pleaded before the KWDT-II that increase in FRL of Almatti Dam would cause submergence in the territory of Maharashtra. Additionally, the erstwhile State  of  Andhra  Pradesh  has  also  pleaded  that  raising  the  height  of  Almatti  Dam  would  adversely  affect  the interest of the lower riparian areas of the State by denying the dependable flows.

The Tribunal after hearing the objections of both the States, considering the facts and circumstances and based on the report of hydrological survey conducted regarding actual sedimentation in Almatti Dam and Hippargi Barrage; has concluded in its Report 2010 (u/s 5(2) of ISRWD Act),  that the apprehensions raised by both the States are not true and valid.  Accordingly, the Tribunal allowed the FRL of Almatti Dam to be kept at 524.256 m. However, the final report of KWDT-II under section 5(3) of ISRWD Act has not been published so far, due to the stay order of Hon'ble SCI in a related matter.

Since  the  submission  of  the  report  under  section  5(2)  of  ISRWD  Act,  1956,  by  the  KWDT-II,  no reference from any Krishna basin States has been received to the Central Government, regarding objection(s) on raising the height of Almatti Dam. Therefore, question of constituting any technical team or steps to be taken to reduce the height of the Almatti Dam does not arise.

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