Karnataka CM Warns of Monsoon Deficit, Holds DCs Accountable for Water Supply

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has warned that the state faces a monsoon rainfall deficit in all districts except five, based Indian Meteorological Department forecasts predicting below-normal southwest monsoon rains. During a high-level review meeting in Bengaluru, he directed Deputy Commissioners to take immediate precautionary measures against drinking water shortages, holding them personally responsible for any failures. The Chief Minister highlighted that North Interior Districts are likely to experience above-average heatwave days from April to June. Currently, 213 taluks and over 2,400 village panchayats are identified as vulnerable, with hundreds already facing shortages. To mitigate this, authorities are deploying water tankers and hiring private borewells, prioritizing the latter over tanker supplies. Reservoir storage stands at 36% capacity, which is deemed sufficient for drinking needs if managed correctly. Consequently, officials were instructed to reserve water strictly for drinking purposes until mid-July, prioritizing it over irrigation requirements. Control rooms have been ordered at taluk and ward levels to monitor the situation closely, ensuring coordinated efforts among Revenue, Rural Development, and Urban Development departments to address the impending crisis effectively.