Maharashtra CM Fadnavis flags Almatti dam height hike, warns of flood threat to Sangli and Kolhapur

“These areas will face prolonged waterlogging, greater damage to agriculture, and risks to human life and property,” he cautioned.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has raised alarm over the Karnataka government’s plan to raise the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the Almatti Dam, warning that the move could lead to severe flooding in downstream areas like Sangli and Kolhapur.

In a letter addressed to Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, Fadnavis has urged the Centre to intervene immediately and instruct Karnataka to reconsider the proposal.

“Your intervention in this matter would bring immense relief to the affected regions. It will be in the best interest of the communities dependent on the Krishna River system in both States,” Fadnavis wrote.

The Karnataka government has proposed to raise the FRL of the Almatti Dam to Reduced Level (RL) 524.256 metres, a move Maharashtra believes could have disastrous consequences.

Fadnavis, in his letter, pointed out that the riverbed level at the Maharashtra border is RL 518.00 m. If Karnataka’s plan goes through, it would result in a standing pool of water nearly 6 metres deep in areas just across the border, worsening the already fragile flood situation in Sangli and Kolhapur.

Fadnavis cited past flood experiences and hydrological concerns, saying the situation is already worsened by:

Siltation caused by dam impoundment, which reduces the river’s capacity to carry water.

Delayed floodwater recession in monsoon due to sediment buildup.

Upstream barrages with inadequate waterways, which have compounded the flooding problem over the years.

“The impounding of Almatti Dam has led to extensive siltation upstream in the Krishna River and its tributaries,” Fadnavis wrote, warning that floodwaters now take longer to recede, amplifying the damage.

The CM’s letter emphasised that thousands of residents and acres of farmland in Sangli and Kolhapur districts lie vulnerable if Karnataka proceeds with the height increase.

“These areas will face prolonged waterlogging, greater damage to agriculture, and risks to human life and property,” he cautioned.

The barrage construction upstream of Almatti, with channels that Fadnavis claims are too narrow, has already triggered frequent inundation in Maharashtra's riverine belt.

The Almatti Dam is a major hydroelectric and irrigation project on the Krishna River in North Karnataka. Completed in 2005, it serves as the main reservoir under the Upper Krishna Irrigation Project and has a target electricity output of 560 million units annually, according to the Karnataka government.

While crucial for North Karnataka's agriculture and power generation, the dam has often been a point of contention between Karnataka and Maharashtra, especially during the monsoon.