Karnataka Requests 4 TMCFT Drinking Water from Maharashtra Amid Shortage

The Karnataka government has formally requested the Maharashtra government to release four thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water to address acute drinking water shortages in six districts of northern Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wrote to his Maharashtra counterpart, Devendra Fadnavis, seeking two tmcft from Krishna river reservoirs and two tmcft from the Bhima river. The crisis stems from delayed rainfall in catchment areas and significant leakage of approximately 1.5 tmcft from the damaged Hippargi barrage, which has drastically reduced reservoir levels compared to the previous year. While Maharashtra typically releases water during summer for a fee, negotiations for a long-term water swap agreement remain stalled. Maharashtra proposes that Karnataka fund a ₹500 crore pipeline project to supply water to southeast Maharashtra, a condition Karnataka rejects. Local officials and political leaders, including PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, advocate for resolving the stalemate through dialogue to ensure mutual benefit and maintain harmonious inter-state relations. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in water resource management between the two riparian states.