The Almatti Dam on the Krishna River is located in the Bijapur district of North Karnataka.
Credit: DH File Photo
Hyderabad: After Telangana's opposition BRS, Andhra Pradesh's YSRCP has raised alarm over Karnataka government's decision to increase the height of Almatti dam.
YSRCP State General Secretary SV Satish Reddy on Wednesday slammed the coalition government in the state led by N Chandrababu Naidu for neglecting Andhra Pradesh’s vital interests while resorting to diversionary politics and personal attacks in the Assembly.
He expressed alarm over Naidu’s silence on Karnataka’s plans to raise the height of Almatti Dam, warning that it would deprive Andhra Pradesh of 100 TMCs of Krishna water, paralyse irrigation and drinking supply, intensify drought in Rayalaseema, and halt inflows to Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.
Few days ago Telangana's opposition BRS has threatened to launch massive protests against Karnataka's decision to increase the Almatti dam height from 519 feet to 524 feet. BRS Working President KT Rama Rao came down heavily on the Karnataka Congress government for deciding to raise the Almatti Dam height, calling it a “death warrant” for Telangana farmers.
He slammed Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for “luxuriating in Delhi” while a dangerous conspiracy was being hatched against Telangana’s farmers.
He alleged that this was not merely for an additional 100 TMC of water, but part of a conspiracy to deprive Telangana of its rightful share of Krishna waters and turn erstwhile Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Ranga Reddy districts into deserts.
“Congress is in power here and there too. Do you have neither the courage to speak nor the guts to resist when Telangana farmers’ lives are at stake?” he asked, demanding that both Revanth Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi answer Telangana people.
“As a coalition partner at the Centre, Naidu must stop this. His failure is nothing but a curse on the state. Almatti is about survival. If the government fails, YSRCP will fight at the Centre to protect Andhra Pradesh’s rights,” Satish said on Tuesday.
He noted that the Assembly has been reduced to targeting YS Jagan Mohan Reddy instead of addressing real issues. Farmers are dumping crops for a lack of support price, pensioners have not received new pensions, and critical issues like the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant privatization are ignored. “Delhi trips brought no benefit. Even promises like the Durga–Srisailam seaplane remain hollow,” he said.
Calling Chandrababu Naidu the architect of character assassination politics, Satish cited the Balakrishna–Chiranjeevi episode, questioning why Balakrishna has not apologized and why Lokesh remains silent while the yellow media defends him.
He condemned the illegal arrests of social media activists, misuse of power, and shielding of leaders, reminding that courts had censured the government in the liquor case bail hearings. On the Kodela suicide issue, Satish said it was falsely politicized, noting the Assembly only moved court over unreturned furniture.
Satish accused Chandrababu Naidu of opportunism. “Before elections, Chiranjeevi was treated as God. Today, out of fear of Balakrishna’s remarks, Chandrababu runs to Pawan. The coalition survives only on Pawan’s support but has betrayed the people,” he said