Not only water but Karnataka has to share the Tungabhadra dam ‘silt money’ with AP

It is a well-known fact that Karnataka has to share water from Tungabhadra Dam with the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh. But what is news is that the state also has to share the money acquired from selling the silt from the Tungabhadra dam.

In fact, Andhra Pradesh government has never bothered to remove silt from the dam. But when the farmers of Karnataka came together and decided to make the dam silt-free, Andhra Pradesh is taking away half the money from these farmers without any investment of money or energy.

This rule is not applicable to any other dam in India. But Tungabhadra dam has to comply with this as per the rules chalked out by the Tungabhadra Board consisting of representatives from both the states and the Centre.

The Tungabhadra dam was filled with silt and farmers came forward to clean it. When various companies heard of this news, they too decided to buy the silt from farmers. Thus six companies including C Arunkumar and L&T have started utilising the silt in laying the National highways and to making bricks. The companies have already given Rs 26 lakh in this regard, and the Board has kept aside half the money to be given to Andhra Pradesh.

The calculation

There is a need for a large quantity of sand for the soil to construct the National Highway in the dam premises. Thus the companies have laid their eyes on the soil in the Tungabhadra dam. The companies have even approached the Board in this regard, and it has fixed an amount for the same.

Accordingly, the companies have to pay Rs 30 per cubic metre and Rs 30 as a tax. The tax will be taken by Karnataka, but the state will have to share the money collected for the soil.