Maharashtra, Karnataka take steps to avert floods after dams overflow (The Hindu- 30 Aug. 2011)

Amruta Byatnal

After heavy rain lashed western Maharashtra in the last 24 hours, the authorities of Maharashtra and Karnataka are working in coordination to avert a flood-like situation in the region. Maharashtra dam officials have informed their Karnataka counterparts about the water released from the Koyana Dam, which reaches Almatti dam in Karnataka's Bijapur district.

“We have already informed officials at the Almatti dam, after water was released from Koyana. Till now, Koyana's water discharge has reached 1.03 lakh cusecs. Karnataka officials told us that they too have increased the water release from the Almatti Dam up to 1.25 lakh cusecs,” P.P. Mane, Sangli division Sectional Engineer, told The Hindu .

In the past 24 hours, the catchment area of the Koyana Dam, which is situated in Satara district, received 143 mm of rainfall. Water released from Koyana reaches Almatti in Bijapur through the Krishna river. In 2005, heavy water discharge from Koyana led to a significant increase in the Almatti's water level, resulting in heavy floods at the backwaters of Almatti.

High alert

According to Koyana Dam officials, the dam is 99 per cent full to its capacity. All six doors of the dam have been lifted up to nine feet. Villages adjoining the Koyana have been put on high alert. In Sangli and Kolhapur districts, heavy rains disrupted normal life.

Pune district administration officials said dams in the district were full following incessant rain in their catchment areas since Sunday. According to Vitthal Balote of the Disaster Management Cell, 1.26 lakh cusecs of water was released from the Bund Garden point. The administration had issued flood alert to localities of Deccan, Sinhgad Road and Hadapsar after the water discharge from Khadakvasla Dam on the Mutha was increased to 47,000 cusecs. Torrential rain also affected life in Nashik. A person was washed away on the Dindori-Unhala river. A flood-like situation near the Gangapur Dam prompted officials to issue warnings in the nearby villages.

Forecast

The India Meteorological Department in Pune on Monday predicted heavy rainfall in central and western Maharashtra. Its daily forecast stated that cyclonic circulation over Madhya Pradesh and northern Maharashtra and a low pressure belt area created over the Bay of Bengal was the cause of the heavy rainfall.