Karnataka proposes alternative to Navali balancing reservoir across Tungabhadra

According to Deputy CM and Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the original proposal of constructing Navali reservoir had been sent to the Tungabhadra Board in which Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also members.

Karnatak,a, which had proposed construction of a balancing reservoir at Navali to overcome the silt problem at Tungabhadra reservoir, will share an alternative plan (without construction of a reservoir) with the riparian States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is awaiting a meeting with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the issue.

The Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister D.K. Shivakumar told the Legislative Council on March 13 that he had sought an appointment with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to discuss the matter. “I have already spoken to the Irrigation Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during a meeting in Rajasthan. I have sought time to explain both proposals,” he said in response to a question from Congress member Basanna Gouda Badarli, who sought to know the reason for non-allocation to the Navali project in this budget.

According to Mr. Shivakumar, the original proposal of constructing Navali reservoir had been sent to the Tungabhadra Board in which Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also members.

“Enormous silt has reduced the quantum of storage in Tungabhadra reservoir by about 30 tmc ft. Previous governments have tried removing silt. However, a technical report states that removing silt is unviable. For Navali reservoir, about 15,000 acres need to be acquired in Koppal district. Alternatively, we have proposed water pumping without constructing the reservoir, which would benefit Karnataka by about 65% and the other States by 35%,” he said, without providing details.

Mr. Shivakumar said that he would remind the Centre about the issue during a meeting on Pennar river with the Tamil Nadu representative on March 18.