Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that he will discuss the release of water from the Koyna reservoir with his counterpart in Maharashtra.
The chief minister said that efforts are underway to avoid any calamity in the region. "I will discuss with the Maharashtra CM about problems caused by releasing water from reservoirs in both states,” he said.
He had earlier written to Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis over regulating the discharge of water from the Koyna reservoir.
He denied reports which raised fears of floods in Maharashtra due to water stored in Almatti and Narayanpur reservoirs in Karnataka. An official confirmed that 5 lakh cusecs of water will be released from the Almatti reservoir in agreement with the Maharashtra government to manage water levels in Kohlapur and Sangli districts.
The water at the Almatti reservoir is currently at 85 tmcft against its full capacity of 123 tmcft, while that of the Narayanpur reservoir is at 18 tmcft against a capacity of 33 tmcft.
Yediyurappa stated that the release of water will affect people in Karnataka and not affect people in Maharashtra in any manner. However, he further said that there is a need for coordination between the two states.
He also called upon philanthropists and the general public to come forward and contribute to the CM’s relief fund.
Request all citizens to lend a helping hand to the people in distress due to floods in the State by contributing generously to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund - Natural Calamity #CMRF #KarnatakaFloods #NorthKarnatakaFloods pic.twitter.com/KtMSfBaf2y
— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) August 8, 2019
Yediyurappa visited the flood affected taluks of Belagavi, Hukkeri, Chikkodi, Nippani and took stock of the situation.
He was earlier criticised by opposition leaders for camping in New Delhi to discuss the expansion of the cabinet at a time when the flood situation in the state was intensifying.