BELGAUM: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday rejected the state government’s request for 2 TMC ft of water from the Koyna reservoir to tide over the prevailing drought in border areas of the district. Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore spoke to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, urging him to expedite the water release. Pawar was said to have replied that he will tell Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajith Pawar to look into the matter. The Karnataka government had placed the request to slake the thirst of villagers living in the border areas of Belgaum district.
The Maharashtra government, though, had agreed to release 2 TMC ft of water. Villages located on the banks of Krishna river, in Chikkodi, Raibag and Athani taluks, are facing acute water scarcity.