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.
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Kota C-section deaths: Strict treatment protocols in OTs, ICUs ordered
Kota (PTI): In the wake of the death of four women due to infection after C-section delivery, Rajasthan principal secretary (health) Gayatri Rathore has ordered strict adherence to treatment protocols in emergency operation theatres, ICUs and other critical units in hospitals.
Rathore on Monday night visited the ICU of the Super Speciality Block at New Medical College Hospital here and spoke to the relatives of three postpartum women, Pinki, Dhanni Bai, and Aarti, about their health.
She also spoke to Ragini Meena, who is admitted to the ICU, and said the condition has improved considerably.
Four women, two each at NMCH and JK Lone Hospital, died after developing complications following a caesarean delivery.
Pinki Mahawar, 30, wife of Chandra Prakash, a daily wage labourer, died on Monday of a similar infection after a C-section delivery.
Priya Mahawar, 22, died after developing a kidney infection post-C-section in JK Lone Hospital on the intervening night of May 9 and May 10.
Before her, two other women, Payal and Jyoti Nayak, aged 26 and 19, died on May 5 and May 7, in the New Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, Rathore said the patients' treatment is being monitored by senior nephrologist Dr Dhananjay Agrawal, according to a statement.
She was briefed by Dr Vikas Khandelia on the treatment of all postpartum women who got the infection.
According to a statement, she also met Chandrakala and Sushila, who have been shifted to the nephrology ward, and enquired about their health. Their relatives said that both women are now in a much better condition.
Later on Monday, the official chaired a meeting at NMCH, took information from senior doctors and discussed all possible causes behind the deaths due to infection.
She said that treatment protocols and infection-free operation theatres should also be ensured at district hospitals and PHC-CHC levels, and warned of action in case of any negligence.
Rathore said an investigation is underway into every aspect of the case. Action has already been taken against doctors and nursing personnel found prima facie guilty, the statement said.
According to the statement, Rathore said regular sterilisation must be ensured in these emergency units to prevent any possibility of infection. Equipment and machines used during treatment should also be sterilised as per protocol.
Hospital in-charges and unit heads should regularly monitor whether all treatment protocols are being followed properly, it said.
Rathore said hospital superintendents may also use RMRS funds for immediate requirements in ICUs and operation theatres.
The meeting was attended by District Collector Piyush Samaria, City Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam, Food Safety and Drug Control Commissioner Dr T Shubhamangala, Director of Public Health Dr Ravi Prakash Sharma, Principal of Kota Medical College Dr Nilesh Jain, Dr Dhananjay Agrawal, and doctors from Jaipur.
