Security tightened around Koyna dam

KOYNANAGAR (Satara): A thick blanket of security has been thrown around the Koyna dam, one of the largest irrigation projects in the state, in the wake of latest revelations that the dam is on the hit list of terror outfits.
"As many as 250 police personnel have been posted on vigil at strategic locations around the dam and all kind of public movement is under close scrutiny," Satara district superintendent of police Vitthal Jadhav told TOI.
Security measures were heightened after suspected Pakistani spy Javed Mojawalla, who was arrested recently by the Mumbai police, identified Koyna dam as one of the terror targets during interrogation.
The Koyna project, which comprises four dams with the main Koyna dam having the largest catchment area, supplies water to western Maharashtra. It is also home to one of the larger hydroelectric projects with capacity to generate 1,920 MW power. The dam reservoir has water storage capacity of 102 TMC.
The main dam, located about 200 km from Pune, off the Pune-Bangalore national highway no.4, is often described as a civil engineering marvel and one of the largest projects to be commissioned post-independence.
Jadhav said, "As many as eight police posts have been set up at different locations around the dam to keep a security watch with assistance of 250 police personnel, including 40 plainclothesmen. Classified close and long-distance cameras have been installed at different locations to record various movements round-the-clock."
The Koyna dam is also a popular tourist spot and draws a sizeable number of visitors throughout the year. However, tourists and civilian population are not allowed to access the dam walls.
"Those authorised to access the dam walls including irrigation, police and forest officials, have to pass through six check posts. This ensures that no unauthorised person gets closer within a 2-km radius of the dam walls. Two well-equipped motor-launches also keep moving around through the dam waters for patrolling purpose," said Jadhav.
Police teams scrutinising outsiders have been given the necessary security paraphernalia, like body scanners and metal detectors, he added.
Meanwhile, additional superintendent of police Sadanand Wayse Patil visited the dam project on Friday to inspect the security measures. The Satara police has set up a helpline numbers 9011181888 and (02162) 233833 to enable people to provide alerts on any suspicious movement.