Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are set to hold a crucial high-level meeting on Friday, with inter-state water sharing emerging as a key agenda item. Among the major issues to be discussed is Karnataka’s formal request for the release of 2 tmcft of water from the Koyna dam into the Krishna basin to mitigate the worsening water crisis in the state’s northern districts.
Shivakumar’s Urgent Appeal
Shivakumar has already written to the Maharashtra government, urging immediate release of water to address acute shortages affecting Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura districts. These regions are reeling under severe stress due to deficient rainfall, leading to scarcity of drinking water for both people and livestock, especially during the peak summer period.
Local Officials Express Confidence
Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said the matter had been raised with the CM during a recent video conference. He expressed confidence that Shivakumar would strongly pursue the request during his meeting with Fadnavis. Roshan underlined the urgency, noting that the Krishna basin is already facing a deficit due to the delayed onset of the monsoon.
Additional Challenges
Adding to the challenge, around 1.5 tmcft of water has been lost following damage to a crest gate at the Hipparagi reservoir, further aggravating the situation. Karnataka has therefore urged Maharashtra to release water in accordance with the established rule curve to stabilise supply in the basin.
Historical Cooperation
Traditionally, Karnataka and Maharashtra have maintained a cooperative arrangement under which Maharashtra releases 2 to 3 tmcft of water to Karnataka during summer as a goodwill measure. In return, Karnataka allows surplus monsoon flows to pass downstream into the Krishna basin, eventually reaching the Almatti dam.
Recent Strained Relations
However, officials point out that Maharashtra has not released water during the past few summers despite rising shortages. In contrast, Maharashtra has been seeking a reciprocal arrangement, demanding that Karnataka supply water to villages in Jat taluk through the Tubachi-Babaleshwar lift irrigation project in Bagalkot district. Talks on sharing infrastructure costs for this proposal remain unresolved, and the issue is expected to be a key focus in the upcoming discussions.
