AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

FLOODS

The low lying villages on the banks of the rivers, Krishna, Warna and Yerala get inundated in times of floods. The river Krishna, the biggest of the three, flows through Walwa, Tasgaon and Miraj talukas. Every year about 32 villages from these three talukas are generally affected by the floods of Krishna river. Warna river has its origin in Shirala Mahal and its major portion forms the boundary between Kolhapur district on the one hand and Shirala Mahal and Walwa taluka on the other. The floods of Warna river every year cause damage to four villages (Aitawad Khurd. Kanegaon, Koregaon, Shigaon) from Walwa taluka and three villages (Sawalwadi, Dudhgaon, Samdoli) from Miraj taluka. The river Yerala flows through Khanapur and Tasgaon talukas and causes damage in times of floods to Vasagade and Brahmanal villages from Tasgaon taluka. The latter two rivers join the Krishna in Sangli district.

The details of floods prior to 1-8-1949 are not available. The known highest floods were, however, of the year 1914. The three rivers had heavy floods in 1950, 1953, 1955, 1958 and 1961. In 1953 the floods of the river Warna came unexpectedly and the flood waters encircled Shigaon. Koregaon and Kanegaon villages in Walwa taluka. However, there was no loss of human life and only five cattle were lost. About ¾th of the gaothan area of the village Koregaon was submerged under flood-water and ²/₃rd houses of the village either collapsed or were severely damaged. Volunteers and the police force helped the villagers.

Due to heavy rains in the district in 1958-59, 68 houses and 36 huts collapsed and 239 houses in 28 villages on the banks of the rivers Krishna and Warna were damaged. About 2,119 people were affected by the floods. The floods caused damage to the extent of Rs. 32,165. Foodgrains, clothes, etc. were distributed to the sufferers. The government also granted a sum of Rs. 1,100 to the flood affected people. In addition, one temple at Fundi Walwa collapsed causing damage to the extent of Rs. 1,000, one irrigation well at Tupari was filled with silt (damage worth Rs. 500) and about 15 acres of land at Nagrale was washed away causing damage to the extent of Rs. 1,970.

In the 1961 flood, when the water level was about 3 to 4 feet below that of 1914, 54 villages were affected, 684 houses were either damaged or collapsed and damage to crops like sugarcane, jowar, groundnut, etc. was estimated at Rs. 14,62,300. Four temples, one mosque, one gymnasium (talim), one school building and a river ghat were also damaged. The damage was estimated to the extent of Rs. 7,875. Five cables of the telephone exchange office, Sangli worth Rs. 2,000, were also damaged. There was no loss of life. Flood-affected persons were evacuated and given shelter in public buildings. The Fiood Relief Committee which was constituted under the chairmanship of the Collector collected an amount of Rs. 9,365 by way of local contribution for granting relief to the flood-affected people. The details of the relief granted are as follows: —

A flood co-ordination board of some officials and non-officials has been set up for the district to take measures against the recurring floods.

TOP