Naidu Opposes Almatti Dam Height Hike, Seeks Central Intervention
He urged the Centre to intervene immediately, also as the issue is currently before the Supreme Court.
Vijayawada:Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday firmly opposed Karnataka’s proposal to increase the height of the Almatti Dam, warning that the move could have serious adverse implications for Andhra Pradesh.
He urged the Centre to intervene immediately, also as the issue is currently before the Supreme Court.
Naidu raised the issue during his meeting with Union Jal Shakti minister C.R. Patil in New Delhi. He also sought the Centre’s active support to expedite major irrigation and drinking water projects critical to the state’s water security.
Expressing concern over Karnataka initiating land acquisition for expansion of the Almatti Dam, the CM requested the Centre to restrain the neighbouring state from proceeding further until legal and inter-state issues are resolved. Unilateral actions could disturb the fragile balance of inter-state water sharing arrangements, he said.
During the meeting, Naidu also pressed for urgent financial assistance for projects promised to Andhra Pradesh under the Reorganisation act. He called for a high-level meeting to resolve long-pending water-related issues, saying water availability remains central to AP’s agricultural and drinking water needs.
Seeking enhanced support under the Jal Jeevan Mission, he sought an additional `1,000 crore allocation for Andhra Pradesh for the 2025–26 financial year. He informed the Union minister that the state had already released `524.41 crore as its share and urged the Centre to promptly release the pending central share to maintain the project’s momentum.
The Chief Minister also highlighted proposals submitted by the state for tank and canal restoration under the PMKSY–RRR scheme, stating that timely central funding would significantly strengthen irrigation infrastructure in rural areas.
On the Polavaram national project, the chief minister sought immediate clearance of pending approvals related to various components of the project. He briefed Patil on the progress of ongoing works and said a detailed proposal outlining funding requirements for Phase-II would be submitted shortly.
Raising another critical concern, Naidu said the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (VWDT) orders were yet to be fully implemented. Emphasising the urgent need for the construction of the Neradi Barrage to mitigate drought conditions in Srikakulam district, he sought clear central guidelines to protect AP’s legitimate water rights.
In a press meet in Delhi on Friday, after the meeting with Union minister Patil, water resources minister Nimmala Ramanaidu said there should be no objection if AP sought to utilise surplus Godavari waters that otherwise flowed wastefully into the Bay of Bengal.
He urged the Centre to grant immediate clearances for the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar link and other key irrigation projects to ensure long-term water security for the state.
On the Godavari water issue, the minister said Andhra Pradesh did not want to raise unnecessary disputes. Internal political circumstances in Telangana may have partly contributed to the controversy, he felt.
He said Andhra Pradesh had never obstructed the construction of projects such as Kaleshwaram and Sitarama Sagar in Telangana. “Now, there is no justification for objecting to the lower riparian state utilising surplus waters,” he said.
