Shivakumar Seeks Centre's Intervention Amid Tensions With Andhra Over Alamatti Dam Height Expansion

Last Updated:March 04, 2026, 13:05 IST

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar urged the Union Government to address Andhra Pradesh's objections to raising Alamatti dam height.

Expressing profound disappointment over neighbouring Andhra Pradesh’s objections to increasing the height of the Alamatti dam to 524 meters, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday called upon the Union Government to intervene and protect the state’s riparian rights.

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Irrigation portfolio, criticised the recent move by Andhra Pradesh to petition the Centre against land acquisition for the project.

Shivakumar emphasised that Karnataka is acting within the framework of the 2010 Tribunal order, which allowed the state to increase its water usage from 177 TMC to 330 TMC, yet the project remains stalled due to the lack of a formal Gazette notification.

The escalating dispute follows a September 2025 Cabinet decision by the Karnataka government to acquire 1.33 lakh acres of land, a massive undertaking supported by a planned investment of 70,000 crore across three phases. Shivakumar revealed that the state has already poured 20,000 crore into the project, only to face fresh hurdles from neighboring states.

“I did not think Andhra Pradesh would go to this extent," the Deputy Chief Minister remarked, noting his surprise that a state led by experienced politicians would actively work to block land acquisition occurring strictly within Karnataka’s borders.

He further noted that despite the absence of a Supreme Court stay, both Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have continued to move the courts to delay the project’s progress.

The Deputy Chief Minister announced that the state is now preparing an all-party delegation to travel to New Delhi during the upcoming Parliament session starting March 10. He stressed that Karnataka’s Members of Parliament must exert significant pressure on the Union Jal Shakti Minister, who he suggested is facing competing political pressures from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Shivakumar expressed frustration over the lack of cooperation regarding the Tungabhadra and the Navile Balancing reservoir, stating that Karnataka is losing 30 TMC of water while Andhra Pradesh skips critical coordination meetings. He warned that if the Centre issues a letter asking Karnataka to stop, it would provide legal ammunition for opposing states to seek further injunctions in court.

Reflecting on the long legal history of the Alamatti dam, Shivakumar admitted that the state’s previous decision to challenge the Tribunal’s order in the Supreme Court had proven to be a strategic error that is now complicating current efforts.

As the state prepares to allocate additional funds in the upcoming budget, the government remains firm in its stance to harness its rightful share of water. When asked about seeking guidance from veteran leader H.D. Deve Gowda, Shivakumar noted that while Gowda’s health is currently fragile, all political stakeholders must do whatever is possible from their side to ensure Karnataka’s interests are not compromised by external political maneuvers.

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