Stop Karnataka from raising height of Almatti dam: Maharashtra to Centre
New Delhi, Aug 4 (PTI): Maharashtra government on Monday urged the intervention of the Centre to rein in Karnataka from raising the height of the Almatti dam on the Krishna River, contending that the backwaters of the river would cause flooding in Kolhapur and Sangli districts of the state.
In a memorandum to Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the Karnataka government's proposal to raise the Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the dam from the present 519.60 metres to 524.256 metres will have serious and irreversible consequences for the flood-prone districts of Sangli and Kolhapur, located in the Krishna River basin.
"Our state has consistently articulated its objections, citing environmental and human impact concerns, and has presented data to support our position," said the memorandum handed over by Vikhe-Patil to the Union minister.
"We seek your kind intervention to terminate the approval of the height raising of Almatti dam," he said.
Members of Parliament, Members of the Maharashtra Assembly and ministers of the state government were present in the meeting with Patil.
They said severe floods occurred in Sangli and Kolhapur districts during 2019 and 2021 due to extremely heavy rainfall and Almatti dam backwaters.
Vikhe-Patil said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already written to the Centre expressing strong reservations regarding the proposed height increase of the dam.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
