With heavy rainfall lashing both Maharashtra and parts of Belagavi district, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan has directed officials to take necessary steps for effective flood management.
Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority at the DC office on Wednesday, Roshan noted that increased rainfall in areas like Belagavi, Hukkeri, Khanapur, Nippani, and Chikodi has led to a significant rise in river inflows. He instructed authorities to keep a close watch on reservoir levels, especially in light of the potential release of water from the Markandeya Reservoir, which could cause flooding in parts of Gokak.
Roshan emphasized the need for immediate precautionary measures, including the installation of barricades at submerged bridges. He pointed out that the water level in Maharashtra’s Koyna reservoir is already higher than it was at this time last year, with 6 TMC feet of water currently flowing into the Krishna River. Given the possibility of further releases from Maharashtra, a nodal officer will be assigned to monitor and report updates on the Koyna reservoir levels.
He emphasized the continuous monitoring of both Hidkal and Markandeya reservoirs. As a preventive step, equipment such as boats, life jackets, barricades, and lighting will be deployed along with personnel from the fire services and home guards. A demand list for the necessary protective gear should be compiled and submitted without delay, he added.
The DC also directed officials to ensure all drains in Belagavi city are cleaned and to trim hazardous trees along key roads to prevent accidents during heavy winds or rainfall.
The meeting was attended by City Police Commissioner Bhushan Gulabrao Borase, District SP Bhimashankar Guled, ZP CEO Rahul Shinde, IAS officer Abhinav J, Assistant Commissioner Shravan Nayak, Tahsildar Basavaraj Nagaral, Basavaraj Hegganayak, District Health Officer Dr. Ishwar Gadad, Urban Development Cell PD Mallikarjun Kaladagi, and ZP Planning Director Gangadhar Divatar.
