Take over pvt borewells: Watchdog

Groundwater over exploited in 77 of the 123 drought-hit taluks, it suggests

Politicians may be falling over each other to visit drought-hit areas and score brownie points. But what matters now when 69 per cent of the total 176 taluks in the State are reeling under drought is to judiciously manage the available water.

Officials say rains are at least two months away. Even if it starts raining in June, it would take a couple of weeks for the groundwater table to rise, and for tanks and reservoirs to receive sufficient water.

Keeping these constraints in view, the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has suggested to the government to make use of the provisions under the Drinking Water Protection Act, 2003, and take over private borewells in places where there is severe shortage of drinking water.

KSNDMC made a host of suggestions at a meeting convened by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday to review the arrangements made by the district authorities to handle the prevailing drought.

KSNDMC Director V S Prakash said the south-west monsoon was normal in June, July and August last year. “The problem began in September. It was one of the worst months in the last 40 years in terms of rain, sowing and moisture index.

The government declared 77 taluks drought affected. There is both hydrological and agriculture drought now,” he said.

He said if the government takes over private borewells, then the owners have to be compensated financially because it may affect water supply to their agricultural fields.

Prakash said there should be a collective thinking on finding a solution to the problem, rather than indulging in blame game. “In Wednesday’s meeting, it was obvious that all DCs have crores of rupees at their disposal for drought relief works. This is a good indication. Now, the challenge is to find ways to manage the available water,” he said.

Of the 123 taluks which have been declared drought-hit, groundwater has been over-exploited in 77 taluks. There is a need to immediately make arrangements for drinking in these taluks, the KSNDMC report said.

Among other suggestions, KSNDMC has said that water in dams should be utilised for drinking purpose instead of irrigation. Farmers who grow paddy and sugar cane should be made aware of the situation and ensure they do not use underground water for agricultural purposes.

Giving a grim picture of the drought situation, the report says that from January 1 to April 2 this year, normal rain during the pre-monsoon period was 2.2mm against the normal rainfall of 13.8mm. This also means that the shortage is 84 per cent.

Parts of the State have been receiving rain in the last one week. But that is not sufficient to meet the drinking water needs. Even shortage of fodder cannot be addressed, the report said.

There is no indication of the interior areas of Karnataka receiving rain in the next two weeks, though there could be scattered downpour.

In Kolar, money flows from borewells

Drought might have left many people in the State high and dry. But for some owners of borewells in Kolar, it has thrown up a lucrative business opportunity.

Private borewell owners have started renting out their borewells to the district administration, which has been supplying drinking water through tankers to many areas. The administration is paying up to Rs 60,000 per borewell, depending on the  yield.

According to Kolar Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena, as many as 105 borewells have been taken on rent across Kolar, Bangarpet and Malur taluks. In some cases, the owners have offered their borewells for free, he added.

Drinking water crisis has worsened in Kolar. As many as 150 villages and about 60 per cent urban wards are being supplied water through tankers. Kolar and Bangarpet are the worst-affected taluks

. But the district administration has chalked out an action plan to ensure water supply for the next two months, Meena said.

Gulbarga Deputy Commissioner R Vishal said the district administration has been closely monitoring the situation and sinking borewells wherever necessary. Old and defunct borewells have been repaired. Drinking water is being supplied in tankers in only one tanda in Chincholi taluk.