Mumbai: In the wake of the recent floods witnessed in Maharashtra and Karnataka, both states have come together to form a panel for better dam management to avoid such situations.
Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa Tuesday visited chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence, Varsha, and discussed the floods. Both leaders decided to form a high-level committee for better dam management to avoid floods in the two states.
“Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Karnataka CM Yediyur-appa decide to set up a high-level committee for better dam management to prevent flooding (sic),” Mr Fadnavis tweeted after the meeting.
Mr Fadnavis and Mr Yediyurappa also decided to oppose Andhra Prad-esh's plea for redistribution of water against the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal’s order in view of the division of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The Centre had constituted a common tribunal in 1969 to adjudicate the river water disputes among the river basin states of Krishna and Godavari rivers.
“It was also decided to jointly oppose Andhra Pradesh's application for redistribution of water against the Krishna Water Tribunal’s order in view of the Andhra and Telangana division. Both states took a firm stand that Andhra and Telangana should take water from their allotted share," the CM further said in the tweet.
Last month, Sangli and Kolhapur districts of western Maharashtra witnessed heavy flooding.
The unprecedented floods affected over 2.85 lakh people. About 200,000 people were evacuated and 29 people died in rain-related incidents.
The Opposition blamed the Almatti dam located in Karnataka for the floods, alleging that failure to release adequate water from the dam by the southern state resulted in the calamity.
To ease the floods, Mr Fadnavis requested Mr Yediyurappa to release more water from the Almatti dam. Following the incident, the experts called for better co-ordination between the two states for management of floodwaters.
