Maharashtra blamed for floods

Karnataka on Friday held Maharashtra responsible for the extensive floods in North Karnataka that had affected 159 villages in five districts. It has decided to take up the matter with the Centre.

Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy told reporters here that a heavy discharge of water from reservoirs in Maharashtra had resulted in floods in 159 villages in Bagalkot and Belgaum districts.

"As many as 3.64 lakh people have been affected by floods. Crops in 71,266 hectares of land have been damaged. We will take up the issue with the Centre on August 8 as part of an all party delegation to the Prime Minister," he added.

He pointed out that the government had released Rs 13 crore for relief works in the five districts affected by the floods.

The government is using 75 boats to evacuate people to safe places in the districts of Bagalkot, Belgaum, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur which share a border with Maharashtra, Kumaraswamy said.

The chief minister contended that Karnataka had urged Maharashtra not to release water in excess from the reservoirs. "But it was of no use. Now we are facing a crisis," he said.