Sangli residens plan to write to Prime Minister’s Office objecting to Karnataka raising Almatti’s height

Kolhapur: The residents of Sangli city have decided to send as many as 5,000 letters to Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Central Water Commission, and other authorities opposing Karnataka's plan to raise the height of Almatti dam located along Krishna river.
The increase in the height of the dam from 519 metres to 524 metres will worsen flooding in Sangli and Kolhapur, according to experts and activists associated with Krishna Mahapur Niyantran Samiti. Recently, a delegation from the Karnataka govt met Jal Shakti minister C R Patil to discuss the plan to raise the height to stock water for irrigation during summer. Recently, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah wrote to his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis requesting the release of water from dams upstream into Krishna and Bhima rivers for meeting drinking needs in northern Karnataka districts.
Sarjerao Patil, the samity convenor, said, "We are preparing to write letters addressing the PMO, Jal Shakti ministry, CWC, ministry of environment and forests, and Maharashtra chief minister objecting to Karnataka's plan to raise the height of the dam. Sangli started witnessing floods since the dam was constructed. It was under floods in 2005, 2019, and 2021, and losses to the tune of thousands of crores have taken place. Every individual associated with our movement will send the complaint letter to the five authorities to stop the Karnataka govt from raising the height."
On Tuesday, MLC Arun Lad led a meeting of all activists. Sangli's MP Vishal Patil and Tasgaon-Kavathe Mahankal MLA Rohit Patil attended the meeting. They discussed ways to ensure that the voice of Sangli's residents is heard. Lad suggested observing a day-long bandh in Sangli city to get the voice heard by the Maharashtra govt, which will then approach the Centre with the concern of residents.