Karnataka govt to discuss CWC direction on additional water release as state faces "severe drought": Dy CM Parameshwara
Tumkur, August 12
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Wednesday said the state was facing a severe drought situation and that the government would discuss the Central Water Commission's direction to release an additional 12,500 cusecs of water for 15 days.
Speaking to ANI in Tumkur, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said that the Central Water Commission has come out with a decision that Karnataka has to leave 12,500 cusecs of water in addition to what we have already done for 15 days. And this is something which we'll have to discuss and take a decision. In fact, the Chief Minister and all the cabinet members will sit together and take a decision regarding this.
Parameshwara said that Karnataka is going through a severe drought, which he described as a situation not seen in the state for nearly 120 years, based on information from the concerned department.
He said that Tumkur is also facing a severe drought, with shortages affecting drinking water supplies and fodder for animals.
"There is at the moment a problem for drinking water and fodder for all the animals and also work for people who otherwise leave the villages and go," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government is closely assessing the situation, with the Chief Minister, ministers and officials evaluating the impact of the drought.
He also flagged the depletion of groundwater levels, saying that the situation had become a serious concern.
"Our groundwater is depleting day by day. There is a very scary situation at the moment," Parameshwara said.
He said that the government is hoping for rainfall towards the end of August or in September to provide relief from the situation. If adequate rainfall does not occur, the state government would have to consider alternative measures, he said.
Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre said that farmers in Bidar are facing significant losses after widespread damage to Kharif crops.
Khandre said that he has visited some of the villages in his district and almost all the Kharif crops have been totally damaged. Farmers are in distress.
Khandre assured farmers that the state government was with them and said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had already assured that eligible compensation would be provided at the earliest.
He said that nearly 2.5 lakh farmers have paid premiums under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Khandre said that the farmers in the district have received around Rs. 246 crores under the crop insurance scheme last year, while the combined compensation provided through the crop insurance scheme, state government and disaster response funds was around Rs. 520 crores.
He also added that he was working with the district administration to secure maximum compensation for affected farmers this year.
Khandre also expressed hope that rainfall would improve the situation, adding that the final decision on compensation would be taken by the Chief Minister.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to see our farmers suffer like this. The crop damage in Bidar and other districts is a major setback. I really hope the compensation reaches the farmers quickly. They work so hard and deserve better support from the government.
The water-sharing issue is always a political hot potato. While I understand the CWC's directive, the state cannot ignore its own citizens' needs, especially during such a severe drought. It would be good if the government could negotiate for some flexibility instead of just following the order blindly.
The situation is really serious—120 years of drought is not a joke. Water scarcity, fodder shortage, and people leaving villages for work is a big problem. The government should focus on long-term solutions like rainwater harvesting and better water management, not just short-term compensation.
Living in the US, it's hard to imagine such a severe drought. But I've been following the news from India, and it sounds like a challenging time for Karnataka. I hope the state and central governments work together to support the affected families. Best wishes to all the farmers.
It's good to see that the government is acknowledging the problem and planning to discuss the CWC direction. But I think they should also look at why the groundwater is depleting so fast. We need strict action on illegal borewells and better water conservation methods. Also, the crop insurance claims should be processed without any delay.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.