The Shiv Sena has objected to release of water from Maharashtra into the Krishna.
Shambhuraj Desai, party secretary, and MLA for Pathani Satara district, has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to release water as it would affect the irrigation prospects of Maharashtra, its power production, and drinking water supply.
Koyna dam has 34 tmcft of water now, compared to 40 tmcft in the same period last year. Maharashtra needs 17 tmcft of water for power production alone. The State’s villages in the downstream need a large amount of water and farmers need water for irrigation, contended the MLA. “Releasing any water to Karnataka would jeopardise these plans,” the MLA said in the letter.
Meanwhile, Karnataka has written three letters to Maharashtra. Of them, two were to request water release and the third to accept the ‘water for water’ agreement proposed by the Maharashtra government. Irrigation Department officials of the two States have held two meetings so far. But no meeting has been held after the suggestion of a ‘ water for water’ agreement, sources said.
“Mr. Fadnavis has accepted our idea and announced that the government would release water depending on availability. We hope that the opposition by the Shiv Sena will not hold water,” a senior officer in the Irrigation Department said.
Farmers say the Karnataka government should act fast and urge Maharashtra to release water immediately. Any delay will worsen the condition of people in border villages, said Sudagouda Modagi, farmers’ leader.
Social activist Ashok Chandaragi said the State government should send a senior Minister or official as an emissary to Maharashtra to convince them of the gravity of the drought here. Even after 10 days of Maharashtra agreeing to release water, there has been no action.
