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Flood-ravaged Maharashtra blames Karnataka

Special Correspondent

"Non-release of water violation of accord"

MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Wednesday accused Karnataka of not releasing the promised six lakh cusecs of water from its Alamatti dam, thus causing a backwater effect that worsened the flood situation in the Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara districts.

"Karnataka was needed to release five lakh cusecs from the Alamatti reservoir on Tuesday in response to the release of water from Maharashtra's Koyna reservoir but it released only four lakh cusecs. Today, they are supposed to release six lakh cusecs more," Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said at a press conference here. He sought the immediate intervention of the Prime Minister in the matter.

To meet Krishna

Mr. Patil said he would also call upon Governor S.M. Krishna and apprise him of the situation.

Mr. Krishna was formerly the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The non-release of the required quantity had caused a backwater effect and inundated farmlands in Sangli and Kolhapur. "The Karnataka Government is responsible for the damage."

Mr. Patil said Karnataka was permitted to build the Alamatti dam on the condition that it would ensure that no submergence took place in Maharashtra. The non-release of sufficient water was a violation of the inter-State accord.

The water level in the Koyna dam had reached alarming levels. Heavy rainfall in its catchment area had increased the inflow. To reduce or even to maintain the level, there was a need to release water. But the outflow should be matched by the release of water from the downstream Alamatti. If this was not done, areas near the Koyna dam would be flooded.

Fields submerged

Mr. Patil, who returned here after a trip to Kolhapur, Sangli and Satara, said 42,000 hectares of agricultural land in Kolhapur and 30,000 hectares in Sangli had got submerged. Over one lakh people had been evacuated to camps in Kolhapur and Sangli.

In another development, the Union Government granted an additional Rs. 500 crores to Maharashtra.

The toll in the State on account of the rain and floods has gone up to 987. These include 432 deaths in Mumbai, 169 in Thane and 147 in Raigad. While 128 people were injured, 48 are missing.

Assembly session sought

BJP leader Gopinath Munde has demanded a special weeklong Assembly session to discuss the calamity and the long-term rehabilitation measures.

He said it was a big mistake on the part of the Government to declare two days' holidays for the Government staff as it had resulted in the failure of the Government machinery in responding to the crisis.

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