Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar cautioned about a looming drought, advising farmers to be cautious due to reduced inflows into major reservoirs. He emphasized not relying solely on reservoir water for cultivation and to plan cropping patterns based on rainfall. Shivakumar highlighted the significant drop in water levels in various reservoirs across the state.
In particular, reservoirs like Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Narayanpur, and Vani Vilasa have experienced minimal inflows compared to the previous year. The CM pointed out the sharp decline in water levels in the Cauvery basin, affecting reservoirs like Hemavathi, Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS), and Kabini. He mentioned that the current inflows are only at about 20% of normal levels.
Shivakumar assigned district ministers to monitor specific districts and announced his plans to personally assess the drought situation in all administrative divisions. The state government has taken preemptive measures following warnings of water and electricity shortages from the Centre. Additionally, a new initiative called “Praja Seve” was approved to enhance grievance redressal by involving district ministers in addressing public concerns directly.
