Maharashtra to Move Supreme Court Over Karnataka’s Plan to Raise Almatti Dam; Concerns Over Flooding in Downstream Districts

Pune, Maharashtra — September 18, 2025 The Maharashtra government has declared its intention to approach the Supreme Court if its neighbouring state, Karnataka, proceeds with plans to increase the height of the Almatti Dam, asserting that such a move could have serious downstream consequences. The dispute centres on Karnataka’s proposal to raise the spillway height of the Almatti Dam from 519 metres to 524 metres, a decision Karnataka claims is essential for advancing the Upper Krishna Project (UKP-3). Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, speaking in Pune, said that the state has consistently opposed the proposal, citing risk to flooded zones in Sangli and Kolhapur districts. These are downstream districts potentially vulnerable to increased water release or spillovers if Almatti Dam’s storage capacity is raised. Because water flows from the dam affect these areas, even incremental change upstream can have amplified effects downstream. Karnataka’s government, in turn, has moved ahead with approving a compensation package under the UKP-3 plan for land acquisition. The package offers ₹40 lakh per acre for irrigated land and ₹30 lakh for dry land for those affected by acquisition or submergence. The raising of the dam’s height would require acquisition of about 1.33 lakh acres, of which more than 75,000 acres would be submerged under the expanded reservoir area. Karnataka’s chief minister Siddaramaiah has urged the Union government to issue the necessary gazette notifications to facilitate the execution of the project. Environmental clearances, inter-state impact assessments, and compensation mechanisms are among the issues in focus. Karnataka argues that the UKP-3 expansion is needed to supply water, increase irrigation capacity, and meet agrarian demands in its northern districts. Maharashtra, however, insists that any change to Almatti Dam’s height must be preceded by a thorough environmental assessment, hydrological studies, and inter-state agreement. The threat to life, property, agricultural land in downstream districts are real; flood management plans, emergency response capabilities, and dam spillway operation protocols need to be clarified if the change proceeds. Fadnavis emphasised that Maharashtra will not accept unilateral action that could adversely affect its citizens. The political stakes are high. Water sharing and river-interstate disputes have historically been contentious in India, and this issue is likely to spark legal, environmental, and political contestation. Farmers downstream are already raising concerns; local stakeholders in Sangli and Kolhapur are keeping a close watch. This development comes against a backdrop of intensifying scrutiny of water management, Experts note that disputes like Almatti highlight the fragile balance in India’s inter-state river management. While upstream states often seek more storage for irrigation and industrial needs, downstream states fear flooding and reduced water flow security. In the Krishna basin, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh have already seen long-standing disputes over allocations, with multiple tribunal awards shaping water sharing. Hydrologists warn that raising the dam’s spillway height could alter flood patterns in the Krishna river’s course, particularly during heavy monsoons when reservoirs are already at capacity. They argue that without transparent data-sharing, joint monitoring, and coordinated reservoir operation, downstream states remain vulnerable. On the ground, farmers in Sangli and Kolhapur districts are voicing concerns that even a few extra metres of storage upstream can mean standing crops being washed away downstream. “We cannot afford another 2019-like flood,” said a sugarcane farmer from Sangli, recalling devastating inundations that year. Political analysts believe this case could echo past water-sharing conflicts such as Cauvery, where prolonged litigation, central intervention, and recurring protests became the norm. The Supreme Court’s involvement is expected to determine whether Karnataka can move ahead with UKP-3 in its current form, or whether conditions and safeguards will be imposed. For now, Maharashtra’s firm stance has raised the stakes. What began as a technical proposal on dam height is fast evolving into a high-voltage inter-state dispute—one that will test India’s water governance frameworks, political negotiation skills, and capacity to balance competing demands of development and environmental safety.