AP for expert survey to fix Almatti height

The state has demanded a survey by technical experts to decide the actual height of the controversial Almatti dam in Karnataka.

Resuming its arguments before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal on Monday, the state pointed that it had got information about the increase of the dam height by 0.6 meters which allows Karnataka to impound about 70 TMC ft water in addition to what was actually allotted by the Bachawat Tribunal in 1973.

Opposing the proposal, Karnataka pointed that it had not violated the Supreme Court order to maintain 519.6 meters height and requested the tribunal not to agree to AP’s demand.

To buttress its argument, the state government presented a copy of report prepared by a private consultancy to the tribunal, to confirm that Karnataka raised the height of the dam by 0.6 meters.

Karnataka then admitted that there could be ‘minor differences’ in the benchmark height but continued to vehemently oppose the proposal for a survey.

“We will present more details on Tuesday,” said a senior official of the irrigation department. “The survey on Almatti dam height will expose Karnataka thoroughly.”