Karnataka Funds Dam Land Grab: Over 75,000 Acres Approved

To facilitate Phase-3 of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP)—which includes raising the Almatti Dam height from 519.6 metres to 524.256 metres—the Karnataka government has approved the acquisition of 75,563 acres of land expected to be submerged due to backwater expansion.

The land will be acquired in a single phase, either through direct purchase or via consent award rates. According to the official Government Order (GO), compensation will be provided as follows:

Irrigated land: ₹40 lakh per acre, Dry land: ₹30 lakh per acre, For canal-related acquisition: ₹30 lakh per acre (irrigated) and ₹25 lakh per acre (dry land)

To oversee the process, the Revenue and Law Departments will establish a Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority, in accordance with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

Final guidelines for compensation and acquisition will be issued after consultations between the Water Resources and Revenue Departments, ensuring the process is legally compliant and fair to affected landowners.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.