Latest news with #ShahuChhatrapati
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Effort needed to avoid floods due to Almatti discharge: MP
Kolhapur: MP Shahu Chhatrapati on Wednesday declared that a coordinated effort will be made to appeal to higher authorities to establish proper control over discharge from Almatti dam, in a bid to avoid floods in Sangli, Kolhapur, and Satara districts of the state. "We will soon present the Almatti dam issue to the Central Water Commission and the water conservation department in Delhi. Coordination needs to be maintained between the irrigation department and other stakeholders, similar to the committee established between Maharashtra and Karnataka over Almatti dam. If the discharge from the dam is managed, flood control can be achieved," the MP said during a meeting at Govt Rest House. Also present were farmers' leader and former MP Raju Shetti, coordinator of Maharashtra-Karnataka flood control committee, Sangli irrigation department superintendent Chandrashekhar Patole, Kolhapur irrigation department superintendent Abhijeet Mhetre, executive engineer Smita Mane, Irrigation Federation district president Vikrant Patil-Kinikar, Krishna River Flood Control Committee coordinator Sarjerao Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) district convenor Vijay Dewane, NCP (SP) district president VB Patil, and farmers. Members of the Krishna River Flood Control Committee bombarded irrigation department officials from Sangli, Satara, and Kolhapur with questions about increased storage in dams and failure to maintain coordination with the Almatti dam administration in Karnataka. Shetti said, "Experts from World Bank have asked for a detailed project report (DPR) for a Rs3,200 crore flood control project here. But this DPR should include actual work in which obstructions in the flow of rivers are removed. Creating drainage works won't solve the issue. Shaktipeeth will worsen the flood situation." Patil-Kinikar said, "Almatti dam was constructed in 2005. Since then, flooding has increased in Kolhapur and Sangli. People can shift, but farmers face losses ." Krishna River Flood Control Committee coordinator Patil said, "There is additional water storage in Almatti even today. Why are Central Water Commission guidelines not being followed? IMD provides weather alerts. If the irrigation department follows them, they could have taken action in advance. If there is a flood in Kolhapur and Sangli, who will be responsible for it?" Irrigation officials outlined the work done by the dam administration to maintain coordination between them and Almatti administration.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India bloc demands immediate aid for farmers
Kolhapur: Office-bearers of the India Bloc Alliance parties on Wednesday demanded immediate financial assistance of Rs50,000 per hectare for farmers severely affected by the heavy rainfall experienced in the last week. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A delegation, led by MP Shahu Chhatrapati and Congress group leader in the Legislative Council MLC Satej Patil, submitted a written statement outlining their demands to district collector Amol Yedage on Wednesday evening. They emphasized the significant losses incurred by farmers due to the recent rainfall and called for an immediate assessment of the damages across Kolhapur district. Patil highlighted the extensive damage caused by the rainfall in Kolhapur district, affecting not only agricultural products but also houses, livestock, roads and other essential infrastructure. "These rains caused major damage to agricultural products, houses, animals, as well as roads and infrastructure. The standing crops of several farmers got damaged," Patil said. He urged govt to provide immediate financial assistance of Rs50,000 per hectare. Patil also pointed out that state govt has declared the recent bouts of rainfall as "state special natural disaster". This classification, he noted, allows for the utilization of up to 10% of the State Disaster Response Fund's annual grant to address the current crisis. "It is possible to provide immediate assistance to the affected citizens in such a disaster. Accordingly, a demand was also made to conduct immediate panchanama of all the affected areas and other components of the district and provide financial assistance to the affected citizens," he said. "Despite the farmers suffering huge losses, the CM is not seen interacting with them. Only politics is being discussed," Patil added.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pro-merger activists meet Kolhapur MP over KMC expansion
1 2 Kolhapur: The pro-merger action committee approached Kolhapur MP Shahu Chhatrapati on Monday to discuss the integration of the fringe villages into Kolhapur Municipal Corporation boundaries. The committee members emphasised that the merger request is based on scientific considerations rather than political motives, given Kolhapur city's current growth limitations. During the meeting, the committee members urged the MP to arrange for a comprehensive discussion with Maharashtra's chief minister, deputy chief minister, urban development minister, secretary, and principal secretary. The MP assured them that he would consult with rural MLAs and coordinate a detailed meeting soon. The committee members expressed frustration over guardian minister Prakash Abitkar's unavailability to discuss the merger issue. They announced plans to organise a 'gherao' to press for their demands for incorporating the fringe villages into city limits. KMC recently submitted a proposal to state govt requesting the incorporation of 18 villages and two MIDCs into Kolhapur's municipal boundaries. Pro-merger committee activist Advocate Baba Indulkar said, "Kolhapur city has no available space as per World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Therefore, KMC cannot provide basic amenities to the citizens. This is a violation of Article 21 of the State Constitution. As Kolhapur Lok Sabha constituency includes Kolhapur city, the citizens are lacking their fundamental rights." Former mayor R K Powar said, "The expansion of Kolhapur city has been stalled since 1946. The population of Kolhapur city was approximately 36,000 in the year 1946, with an area of 66.82 sqkm. The area remains the same in the year 2025, but the population has increased to a total of approximately 10.5 lakhs." The committee highlighted various challenges, including pollution, traffic congestion, flooding issues, a growing flood-affected population, limited development space, overburdened roads, and increased waste management problems due to daily visitors. These factors have created additional financial pressure on the Municipal Corporation, hindering Kolhapur's development.
