The Maharashtra government has sanctioned Rs 136.44 crore for strengthening Koyna dam in view of the fact that the area is earthquake prone, the state assembly was informed on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Koyna region was the epicentre of a moderate earthquake which jolted parts of Maharashtra, Goa [Images] and Karnataka.

Tremor rattles parts of Maharashtra

Minister for Water Resources Ajit Pawar informed the House that the government had appointed a Pune-based private firm for the project.

Pawar informed the House that it was not true that the Koyna dam had become weak following a quake in 1994.

The Deuskar Committee, appointed by the state government to study the status of 27 dams in the state had found no weakness in Koyna dam, he said.