Expressing concern over the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal allowing increase in the height of Almatti dam in south Indian state Karnataka, a noted expert and environmentalist from Andhra Pradesh has said the ruling could result in floods in several parts of neighbouring state Maharashtra.
"The height of Almatti Dam cannot be increased because it will lead to inundation of large tracts of area in Maharashtra's districts on the upstream side of the dam. This
flooding will further accelerate in the years to come because of heavy rainfall caused by climate change and increased deforestation," said T Shivaji Rao, Director, Centre for
Environment Studies, GITAM University, here, in south Indian state Andhra Pradesh.
Moreover, engineers in charge of maintaining the upper dams like Koyna, in Western Maharashtra, will have to release excess water to save their own reservoirs, resulting in
inundation, Rao maintained.
Late last month, the tribunal allowed raising the height of Almatti dam to 524.25 metres from 519.6 metres. The Maharashtra Government has also apprehended that the increase
in dam height would cause floods in the state.
The Tribunal's award is erroneous and may led to serious environmental damage. Hence, a public debate is needed before an ecologically sound decision is taken by all
concerned, including the Tribunal, the states concerned and the Central Government, Rao said.