Karnataka: Once dry, Almatti dam now almost full
Several leaders had appealed to the Maharashtra government not to release water into the Krishna to avoid floods in north Karnataka.
Belagavi: The Almatti dam, the lifeline of North Karnataka, which had almost dried up for want of water in the recent drought, has filled up rapidly over the last week with Maharashtra's Koyna dam releasing its water into the region’s rivers.
Several leaders had appealed to the Maharashtra government not to release water into the Krishna to avoid floods in north Karnataka.
But with their plea going unheard, water is being released from all 26 crest gates of Almatti dam into the Krishna to make sure there are no floods owing to its rising water level.
Serious effort is being made to ensure that the dam's water level does not cross the maximum of 519.3 meters, according to sources. With about 47,658 cusecs of water being released from the dam to its adjoining canals, all six power units of the dam have been activated and are producing 290 megawatts of power, sources reveal.
Meanwhile, local authorities have been able to streamline drinking water supply to Belagavi owing to rising levels in Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Doodganga reservoirs.