Karnataka: Siltation reduces Almatti dam’s storage capacity by 7.55 tmcft, study finds
Bagalkot: A study conducted by the Karnataka Engineering Research Station (KERS) in 2023 has raised concerns over the notable loss of storage capacity at the Almatti Reservoir, which serves as a significant water source for the undivided Vijayapura and Kalyana Karnataka districts.
According to KERS, the Almatti dam has accumulated 7.556 tmcft of silt bringing down the water holding capacity of the reservoir to 115.552 tmcft as against its maximum storage of 123.081 tmcft, as reported by Deccan Herald on Monday.
The KERS, in a report to the state government, has claimed that the water holding capacity of Almatti dam has gone down by 6.1 percent since its commissioning over two decades ago.
K.G. Mahesh, the Director of KERS, explained that the study was carried out over three months, covering 487 square kilometers of the backwaters of the Almatti reservoir to the Hippargi barrage. The research team employed an echo sound system fitted on a boat, which used sound waves to measure the extent of silt deposition at the reservoir’s bottom. “Based on the echo, the quantum of silt deposition can be measured using software uploaded in the machine. The data extracted by the machine was analysed and a report on the same was submitted to the government,” DH quoted him as saying.
Despite the reduced storage capacity, officials from Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Limited (KBJNL) have reportedly assured that the drop in water holding capacity will not lead to a water shortage for irrigation or power generation.
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FM proposes to reduce TCS rates for education, medical purposes
New Delhi: Presenting the Union Budget 2026, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced relief measures aimed at easing the financial burden on families and streamlining the tax framework.
She proposed reducing the Tax Collected at Source (TCS) on foreign remittances for education and medical purposes from 5 per cent to 2 per cent, a move expected to benefit students studying abroad and those seeking overseas medical treatment.
The finance minister also announced that the new Income Tax Act will come into effect from April 1, 2026, marking a major overhaul of the country’s direct tax system.
