A team of engineers from the Maharashtra Water Resources Department on Monday admitted that if the water from Almatti dam on the Krishna River was released by Karnataka on a greater scale after heavy rainfall on August 3, the flood level in Sangli and Kolhapur would not have reached at alarming level. They have cited that the time taken in exchange of letters and tweets between the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka and lack of coordination between two states delayed the water discharge. Deputy engineer Shripad Malgham, who is camping at Almatti since last week, in his preliminary observations submitted to the water resources department has clearly noted that the water from Almatti should have been discharged after heavy downpour was witnessed in Satara, Sangli and Kolhapur since August 3. Sangli resident Sachin Jadhav on phone supported Malgham's view saying that the timely decision on Almatti water release following proper dialogue between Maharashtra and Karnataka could have avoided flood of such magnitude. He informed that the water soared 15 ft from 3 ft due to incessant rains but there was not scope to recede it fast. State water resources department chief engineer, who has been currently engaged in dialogue with his counterpart in Karnataka on Almatti water release, told DNA,'' Karnataka did not act on Maharashtra's demand to discharge water from Almatti dam. Instead, Karnataka took the stand that it was not technically feasible as discharge of water would have caused harm to the villages downstream areas.'' Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on August 7 in his letter to his counterpart and state CM Devendra Fadnavis pointed out that Maharashtra government's decision to increase discharge of water from Koyna reservoir to 1.25 lakh cusecs from 20,000 cusecs led to flood in Belgavi, Vijayapur, Raichur, Kalburgi and Yadgir districts of Karnataka. Fadnavis on August 8 after speaking to Yediyurappa tweeted that Karnataka CM has agreed to release 5 lakh cusecs water from Almatti dam. This will help bringing down water level in Sangli. However, water resources department engineer said the Karnataka government did not commence release of 5 lakh cusecs but the discharge was less. Thereafter, Yediyurappa in his tweet on August 9 said that Karnataka had adjusted the levels of reservoirs to prevent inundation of downstream areas. On the same time, after repeated intervention by Fadnavis, the discharge from Almatti dam was increased to 4.50 lakh cusecs. On August 10, the discharge from Almatti was increased to 5 lakh cusecs. In last four days the water released from Almatti has been increased to 5.40 lakh cusecs . The higher discharge of water and the decline in rainfall have helped to recede water from the flood ravaged Sangli and Kolhapur districts. In Kolhapur, where 249 villages were affected, 2,33,150 people have been evacuated so far, while in Sangli district, where 108 villages were under water, 1,44,987 people were rescued and shifted to safer places.

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