Krishna Bhagya Jala Nigam Ltd (KBJNL) was incorporated on19th August 1994 under the Companies Act, 1956 as Company, wholly owned by the Government of Karnataka for implementation of the Upper Krishna Project (UKP) in the State of Karnataka.

The Company is responsible for planning, investigation, estimation, execution, operation and maintenance of all irrigation projects coming under the UKP. The Company is also responsible to obtain Government of India's clearance and execute the UKP. The Company is also entrusted with the responsibility of rehabilitation and resettlement of the people affected by the Project. The Company is authorised to sell water and recover revenues from individuals, groups of farmers including those in the Command Area Development Authority, towns, city municipalities and industries.

Large parts of Karnataka are located in the drought-prone rain shadow of the Western Ghats characterised by low and unreliable rainfall. The UKP is being executed in the drought-prone northeastern part of Karnataka about 456 Kms from Bangalore in the districts of Gulbarga, Raichur, Bagalkot and Bijapur. It occupies a triangular area lying between the Krishna and Bheema rivers. The population in this area subsists
mainly on agriculture. The area, though being subjected to vagaries of the monsoons, has highly fertile land. Once water is made available for irrigation, the economic picture of the area would be transformed contributing greatly to the development of the region in particular and Karnataka State in general.