Belgaum: Effective co-ordination and timely exchange of information on rainfall and water releases from reservoirs between Karnataka and Maharashtra has helped the district administration in preventing villages from being submerged.

Lack of communication between the two States on management of water levels resulted in the Krishna waters engulfing several villages in Athani, Chikkodi and Raibag taluks of Belgaum district last year. More than three lakh people were evacuated and thousands of families provided temporary shelter away from their homes. Over 20 persons were killed and damage to property was estimated at Rs. 700 crore last year.

This year, with the authorities concerned of the two governments are in constant touch. Belgaum district administration had been alerted about rainfall, release of water from reservoirs.

Acknowledging "good and effective coordination" between the two States, Deputy Commissioner Shalini Rajneesh told presspersons on Tuesday that there was no possibility of any major damage in floods this year despite incessant rainfall in the Krishna basin and copious inflows into Koyna dam in Satara district and release of huge quantities of water from the dam into the Krishna.

Since the outflow from Almatti dam in Bijapur district was ensured to match the level of discharge of water from the Koyna dam, the flood threat was contained. As on Tuesday, the inflow into the Krishna from six of its tributaries and the Koyna dam in Maharashtra was 2.51 lakh cusecs while the outflow from Almatti was 2.70 lakh cusecs. A few low-lying areas on the banks of the Krishna and other rivers could be partially inundated, she said. She said no village had been submerged as reported in a section of the press and a private television channel, although road links to about 61 villages had been affected, Ms. Rajneesh said.

She said road link to 15 villages was cut-off and road link to another 46 villages had been affected. Alternative routes had been opened for traffic. The low-lying areas of Saptasagar, Mangawati, Jugul and Teertha on the banks of the Krishna in Chikkodi taluk were affected. She said 15,762 hectares of agricultural land was waterlogged. The extent of loss to the crops would be assessed only after the water level receded. She said timely warning through media and local communication system had put made the villagers alert to the flood threat. Although, four gruel centres had been opened in Gokak taluk but nobody had taken shelter there.

Meanwhile, supply of foodgrains and kerosene had been arranged in all the villages facing flood threat. Police control rooms had been opened in 40 villages, which did not have telephone facility.

Superintendent of Police Hemant Nimbalkar was present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail