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Title : Regarding flood in Karnataka and raised the question of proper management of the total water resources in the Country.
SHRI PRAHLAD JOSHI (DHARWAD NORTH): Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the Government to the flood situation in Karnataka. This year is a good monsoon year but at the same time, in the northern part of Karnataka, the districts of Belgaum, Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga and Bagalkot are affected by severe flood. The situation has gone from bad to worse because of the release of 2.5 lakhs cusecs of water from Koina dam from Maharashtra. The water level in the Almatti dam is also increasing. About 25 low lying area bridges have already been submerged in Belgaum district and many villages in the remaining taluks. More than 100 villages have been affected in Gulbarga and Raichur districts.
The Government of Karnataka has already swung into action but still a lot of things have to be done. The increase in the rains in Maharashtra and other border districts is likely to cause further havoc in the riparian areas of Karnataka. In such a situation, discharging of excess water from Koina dam has also raised the question of proper management of the total water resources in the country.
Sir, in this context I would like to say that even last year when such a flood situation had arisen, the then Karnataka Government had made a demand to shift these 100 villages, once and for all, from these districts to a nearby place, and for that they had demanded Rs.300 crore but still the file is pending.
There is going to be a greater havoc because the rain is still continuing. I urge the Government of India to call for a meeting of the officers of Maharashtra and Karnataka together and take precautionary measures so that further damages can be avoided.
I also urge the Government to release Rs.300 crore to permanently shift the villages.