Don't give Koyna water to Karnataka now: Shiv sena MLA urges Maharashtra CM
Maharashtra govt. had agreed to release 2 tmc ft of water to Karnataka
Mumbai, May 9: A Shiv Sena MLA from Satara district has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him not to release water from Koyna river to Karnataka, saying the stock in Koyna dam is low due to scanty rainfall last year.
Koyna dam is built on the Koyna river, which originates in Satara district. It is the largest tributary of the Krishna river that flows down to Karnataka.
"The inadequate showers in 2018 led to the current water stock in Koyna dam go down to 34.89 TMC, which is 4.49 TMC less as compared to 2017," Shambhuraj Desai, Sena MLA from Patan assembly segment of Satara district, wrote in the letter to the chief minister.
"The Maharashtra government has already given water (to Karnataka) from Koyna dam as per the water distribution treaty. The water stock is also less as compared to last year.
Therefore, the state should use the remaining stock judiciously. It should not release more water into Koyna basin for Karnataka," he added.
"If we release water for Karnataka, we may not have it for our people in the coming days. The monsoon season is still more than a month away," the legislator said.
Earlier, according to sources, officials of the Water Resources Department in Maharashtra had decided to release 2 tmc ft of water from either from Koyna or Varna dam to Karnataka.
Several parts of Maharashtra, including Patan tehsil, are facing water scarcity and there is a need to save water for people, he said.
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Bengal: Hours after killing of Suvendu's aide, cops say 5 BJP workers injured in bomb attack
Kolkata (PTI): Five BJP supporters have been injured allegedly in a bomb blast in Panihati in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, police said on Thursday.
The incident occurred late on Wednesday night, hours after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants, which led to the saffron camp accusing the TMC of unleashing retaliatory violence.
The bomb blast occurred near St Xavier's Institution in Panihati. Unidentified assailants hurled crude bombs at a group of BJP workers, injuring at least five people, police said, adding the injured were admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to local sources, BJP workers were interacting with residents on Dutta Road in Panihati's Ward number 2 when a group of motorcycle-borne persons allegedly targeted them with bombs before fleeing.
The BJP alleged that the attackers were backed by the ruling Trinamool Congress, an allegation denied by the Mamata Banerjee-led party.
A senior police official said, "We have started an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the surrounding areas to identify those involved. Raids are being conducted to nab the accused."
A heavy police deployment has been made in the area.
"We are maintaining strict vigil and appealing to people not to spread rumours. Necessary steps are being taken to maintain peace," the officer added.
Incidentally, the area where the blast occurred is located near the residence of newly elected BJP MLA Ratna Debnath, the mother of the RG Kar Hospital rape victim.
