<p>Here is an overview of the water scarcity in north Karnataka, particularly during summer.<br />Water is a rare guest in the historic city of Bijapur, the headquarters of a district through which course two major rivers - Krishna and Bhima. Residents used to get water twice a month, and the respite now is that the frequency is once in four days. However, summer has aggravated the problem in areas like Chadachana, Horti, Tamba and Trikoota.<br /><br />People carrying water in bikes and bicycles has become a common sight. A substantial part of the day is being spent on fetching water. A pot of water costs Rs five in Chadachana. The gram panchayat authorities in Tamba have not bothered to supply water for the past three months. Muddebihal gets water once in five days. Borewells are the primary source of water in these areas. Depleted water table and irregular power supply have only added salt to injury. The district administration has submitted a Rs 4.77-crore proposal to sink 500 borewells. The government is sitting on a proposal prepared by a task force comprising elected representatives. The result – not even a single borewell has been sunk this year. Unlike in previous years, water is not being supplied in tankers to 35 villages.<br /><br />Bagalkot district has three rivers flowing through it – Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha. The irony is that residents of Badami, Hunagund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol, on the banks of the river, struggle for water during summer. Half of Bagalkot has been submerged by the backwaters of Almatti reservoir. The rest of the ravaged city gets potable (sweet) water once every 10 days. People have to depend on saline water of the borewells to bridge the supply gap. <br /><br />In Bellary, the water scarcity has aggravated in border areas. Villages on the banks of Tungabhadra continue to struggle for water. Scarcity has also surfaced in about 30 villages of Sirguppa, as river Hagari flowing through the taluk dries up during summer. More than 400 villages also face the problem of excessive fluoride contamination in drinking water. Bellary city, however, gets water once every five days. <br /><br />There are all signs of water scarcity becoming exacerbated in the twin cities of Gadag-Betageri. The cities get Tungabhadra water, pumped at Korlahalli. The level in the river has gone down due to summer. Gadag requires 17 million litres per day (MLD) of water, while the supply stands at 10 MLD. As summer progresses, the water level in Tungabhadra will go down further. Neither are there any other dependable resources nor borewells to meet the demand of a growing city. Bhadra reservoir authorities have agreed to release one and half tmc ft in a phased manner, sources said.<br /><br />There has been skewed water distribution in Hubli-Dharwad. While eight wards get water 24 hours a day, for the other 59, water is a luxury that they get once in six days. The district administration has formulated action plans to ensure uninterrupted water supply to Navalgund, Kalghatagi and Kundagol towns. If implemented, Dharwad will have the distinction of being the first district in the State to ensure uninterrupted water supply to all taluks. <br /><br />Belgaum is comfortably placed in terms of water supply. Last year’s copious rains and rivers Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha have mitigated the shortage significantly. Water is available aplenty in Khanapur and a few other taluks. However, water is being supplied in tankers to Bailahongal. The work on the project to supply water from Malaprabha has been progressing at a snail’s pace for the past four years.</p>
<p>Here is an overview of the water scarcity in north Karnataka, particularly during summer.<br />Water is a rare guest in the historic city of Bijapur, the headquarters of a district through which course two major rivers - Krishna and Bhima. Residents used to get water twice a month, and the respite now is that the frequency is once in four days. However, summer has aggravated the problem in areas like Chadachana, Horti, Tamba and Trikoota.<br /><br />People carrying water in bikes and bicycles has become a common sight. A substantial part of the day is being spent on fetching water. A pot of water costs Rs five in Chadachana. The gram panchayat authorities in Tamba have not bothered to supply water for the past three months. Muddebihal gets water once in five days. Borewells are the primary source of water in these areas. Depleted water table and irregular power supply have only added salt to injury. The district administration has submitted a Rs 4.77-crore proposal to sink 500 borewells. The government is sitting on a proposal prepared by a task force comprising elected representatives. The result – not even a single borewell has been sunk this year. Unlike in previous years, water is not being supplied in tankers to 35 villages.<br /><br />Bagalkot district has three rivers flowing through it – Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha. The irony is that residents of Badami, Hunagund, Jamakhandi and Mudhol, on the banks of the river, struggle for water during summer. Half of Bagalkot has been submerged by the backwaters of Almatti reservoir. The rest of the ravaged city gets potable (sweet) water once every 10 days. People have to depend on saline water of the borewells to bridge the supply gap. <br /><br />In Bellary, the water scarcity has aggravated in border areas. Villages on the banks of Tungabhadra continue to struggle for water. Scarcity has also surfaced in about 30 villages of Sirguppa, as river Hagari flowing through the taluk dries up during summer. More than 400 villages also face the problem of excessive fluoride contamination in drinking water. Bellary city, however, gets water once every five days. <br /><br />There are all signs of water scarcity becoming exacerbated in the twin cities of Gadag-Betageri. The cities get Tungabhadra water, pumped at Korlahalli. The level in the river has gone down due to summer. Gadag requires 17 million litres per day (MLD) of water, while the supply stands at 10 MLD. As summer progresses, the water level in Tungabhadra will go down further. Neither are there any other dependable resources nor borewells to meet the demand of a growing city. Bhadra reservoir authorities have agreed to release one and half tmc ft in a phased manner, sources said.<br /><br />There has been skewed water distribution in Hubli-Dharwad. While eight wards get water 24 hours a day, for the other 59, water is a luxury that they get once in six days. The district administration has formulated action plans to ensure uninterrupted water supply to Navalgund, Kalghatagi and Kundagol towns. If implemented, Dharwad will have the distinction of being the first district in the State to ensure uninterrupted water supply to all taluks. <br /><br />Belgaum is comfortably placed in terms of water supply. Last year’s copious rains and rivers Krishna, Malaprabha and Ghataprabha have mitigated the shortage significantly. Water is available aplenty in Khanapur and a few other taluks. However, water is being supplied in tankers to Bailahongal. The work on the project to supply water from Malaprabha has been progressing at a snail’s pace for the past four years.</p>
