Naidu Opposes Almatti Dam Height Hike, Seeks Central Intervention
: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday came out firmly against Karnataka’s proposal to increase the height of Almatti Dam and warned that the move could have serious adverse effects for Andhra Pradesh.
He urged the Center to intervene immediately as the matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
Naidu raised the issue during his meeting with Union Jal Shakti minister CR Patil in New Delhi. He also sought the Centre’s active support for expediting major irrigation and drinking water projects that are critical for the state’s water security.
Expressing concern over Karnataka initiating land acquisition for expansion of Almatti Dam, the CM requested the Center to prevent the neighboring state from proceeding until the legal and inter-state issues are resolved. He said unilateral actions could upset the fragile balance of interstate water sharing arrangements.
During the meeting, Naidu also pressed for immediate financial assistance for projects promised to Andhra Pradesh under the Reorganization Act. Water availability remains central to AP’s agricultural and drinking water needs, he said, calling for a high-level meeting to resolve long-pending water-related issues.
Seeking more support under the Jal Jeevan Mission, he sought an additional Rs 1,000 crore allocation for Andhra Pradesh for the financial year 2025-26. He informed the Union minister that the state had already released shares worth Rs 524.41 billion and urged the Center to release the pending central share immediately to maintain the momentum of the project.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the proposals submitted by the state for tank and canal restoration under the PMKSY-RRR scheme and stated that timely central financing will significantly strengthen irrigation infrastructure in rural areas.
Regarding the Polavaram national project, the chief minister sought immediate approval of pending approvals for various components of the project. He briefed Patil about the progress of the ongoing studies and said that a detailed proposal outlining the funding requirements for Phase-II would be submitted shortly.
Expressing another critical concern, Naidu said that the orders of the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal (VWDT) are yet to be fully implemented. Emphasizing the urgent need for construction of Neradi Dam to alleviate drought conditions in Srikakulam district, he sought clear central guidelines to protect AP’s legitimate water rights.
Water Resources Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu, at a press conference in Delhi on Friday after meeting Union Minister Patil, said there would be no objection if AP tries to benefit from surplus Godavari waters that are wastedly flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
He urged the Center to immediately issue permissions for the Polavaram-Nallamala Sagar link and other important irrigation projects to ensure long-term water security of the state.
The minister said that Andhra Pradesh does not want to raise unnecessary controversies regarding the Godavari water issue. He felt that domestic political conditions in Telangana might have partly contributed to the controversy.
He said Andhra Pradesh has never blocked the construction of projects like Kaleshwaram and Sitarama Sagar in Telangana. “There is no longer any justification for objecting to the lower riparian state’s use of excess waters,” he said.
