Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has raised objections to Karnataka’s proposal to increase the height of the Almatti Dam on the Upper Krishna river. He warned that any such increase could reduce downstream water availability for Andhra Pradesh. He also pressed the Union Government to address several long-pending inter-state river water disputes and irrigation projects that are linked to the state’s water security.
Almatti Dam Height Issue
Naidu argued that raising the Almatti Dam height would have serious adverse effects on downstream regions. The dam is a major structure on the Krishna river system, and any change in its storage capacity has implications for water sharing among basin states. Andhra Pradesh has expressed concern that reduced flows could affect irrigation and drinking water needs.
Vamsadhara and Godavari Disputes
The Chief Minister urged early settlement of the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha Vamsadhara river water dispute. He asked for the final report of the Vamsadhara Water Disputes Tribunal to be notified in the Gazette without delay. He said this would enable construction of the Neradi Barrage on the Vamsadhara river. He also brought into light the continuing dispute with Telangana over Godavari waters and sought the immediate constitution of the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal.
Polavaram Project and Funding Requests
Naidu requested that the stop-work order on the Polavaram Project be permanently revoked. He also sought reimbursement for the increased cost of capacity enhancement works on the right and left main canals. He pressed for full financial assistance for Polavaram Phase II, including land acquisition, rehabilitation, resettlement, and protective embankments. He said the phase requires an additional funding of about Rs 32,000 crore.
Link Projects and Water Security
The Chief Minister also presented the Polavaram–Nallamala Sagar Link Project. The proposal aims to divert surplus Godavari flood waters to drought-prone areas. He said the project would support drinking water, irrigation, and industrial needs. He sought approvals and support under the National River Linking Policy to strengthen long-term water security in Andhra Pradesh.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026