Karnataka seeks 4 tmcft drinking water from Maharashtra

Karnataka government has requested the Maharashtra government to release four tmcft of water to ensure drinking water supply to districts in northern Karnataka.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis requesting release of two tmcft of water from reservoirs in the Krishna river and two tmcft of water from the Bhima river, sources in the Irrigation Department said. The letter was sent on April 22.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said that he was hopeful that the upper riparian State would release water soon.

Reservoir levels in northern Karnataka are lower this year, compared to 2025. The reasons include leakage of around 1.5 tmcft of water from the Hippargi barrage due to damage to the gates, and delayed rainfall in catchment areas, like the forests in Belagavi district, officers say.

“In 2025, we had around 1.76 tmcft of water in Hippargi dam. But this year, it has shrunk to just around 0.31 tmcft. This is enough for two weeks. We need replenishment if the six districts of Kittur Karnataka do not suffer from a severe scarcity of water,” a senior officer said.

“Every summer, Maharashtra releases water to Karnataka, and the Karnataka government pays for it. The two States have been deliberating on a water swap agreement, but it is yet to materialise,” the officer said.

“Maharashtra wants us to release four tmcft of water from the Tubachi Babaleshwar lift irrigation scheme to the drier parts of southeast Maharashtra, including Jath taluk. The distance between the site of the project in Kavatagi near Jamkhandi to Jath is around 75 kilometres. Of this distance, around 50 km is in Karnataka and 25 km in Maharashtra. Engineers estimate that the cost of laying pipelines is around ₹500 crore. Maharashtra wants Karnataka to bear the cost of the project while Karnataka wants Maharashtra to do it. The discussion is stuck at this point,” an Irrigation Department engineer said.

Ashok Chandaragi, convenor, central committee of Kannada organisations, said that the committee welcomed the idea of water swapping. “We would like the two riparian States to organise a series of talks and resolve the stalemate on water swapping. Some senior minsters should find a way out of this, as it would help both States. What is more, it would also strengthen harmonious relationships between the States,” he said.

PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi , who is in charge minister of Belagavi district, said that he is in favour of a water swap arrangement. “I will request Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to initiate talks, and find a lasting solution to the problem,” he said.