Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jul 19: Chief minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday announced an additional grant of Rs 1 crore to tackle the drinking water crisis in rural taluks across the state.
Addressing deputy commissioners and chief executive officers (CEOs) during a video conference on the drought situation at the Vidhana Soudha, the chief minister directed that video recording must be made mandatory while drilling new borewells. He warned that CEOs would be held directly responsible if any fake cases or irregularities are reported. He also instructed officials to submit a comprehensive report on the state's drought situation to the central government within the next 15 days.
Emphasising that the welfare of small and marginal farmers is the government's top priority, Shivakumar stated that the agriculture, animal husbandry, and rural development departments must work on a war footing. He urged officials to pay special attention to transformer repairs and grant 4G exemptions to keep additional transformers ready. "Officials must step onto the field and demonstrate administrative teamwork and performance, rather than just submitting reports on paper," he directed.
Highlighting the severity of the weather conditions, he noted that as of July 18, the state has recorded an overall monsoon rain deficit of 39%, causing a scarcity in over 170 taluks.
Rainfall deficit across regions:
- Vijayanagara district: 67 per cent
- Malnad region: 43 per cent
- Coastal belt: 35 per cent
- North interior Karnataka: 33 per cent
- South interior Karnataka: 31 per cent
Water levels in major reservoirs have plummeted to just 40% of their capacity. The Linganamakki, Supa, and Varahi dams have an average water storage of merely 23%. Meanwhile, the Cauvery basin holds 51% and the Krishna basin 48% water. The chief minister appealed to farmers to grow crops that require less water to effectively manage the drought situation, assuring that all necessary preparations would be made to protect their interests.
Shivakumar directed officials to maintain complete details of small and marginal farmers using the 'FRUITS' software to ensure that relief measures reach eligible beneficiaries at the grassroots level. He strictly instructed that no village or city ward should face a shortage of drinking water. In the absence of local water sources, authorities must rent private borewells or supply water through tankers immediately. He also stressed the need to create public awareness about rainwater harvesting.
Following an emergency cabinet meeting called on Sunday, the chief minister stated that the state government has already urged the Centre to dispatch a central team immediately for a scientific study of the drought situation and to provide additional financial assistance.