A man walks in sweltering heat in a Karnataka town. (Representative image)
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: After a drought-hit 2024 that witnessed acute drinking water scarcity in several parts of Karnataka, the state government has devised a multi-pronged approach to deal with potential crisis this summer.
Despite predictions of a normal monsoon by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and other international agencies, the government has initiated precautionary measures at the state, district, taluk and gram panchayat levels to address possible concerns.
As per IMD predictions, above normal maximum temperatures are expected over most parts of north interior Karnataka (NIK) districts and parts of coastal districts.
In most parts of south interior Karnataka (SIK) districts and Malnad region, normal maximum temperatures are likely.
Cabinet sub-committee
The Cabinet sub-committee on disaster management, headed by Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, was monitoring water use and initiating multi-layered institutional interventions.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Priyank Kharge, also a member of the sub-committee, told DH that the government was tackling the issue at both micro and macro levels.
“At the macro level, we have requested the irrigation department to be cautious in releasing water (to spare enough water for drinking purposes) and the CM has also written to other states to release our share of water. At the micro level, task force committees have been asked to be vigilant.”
The RDPR minister explained that in case of water crisis, rejuvenation was given first priority.
“If not, we are focusing on hiring private borewells, water tankers and as a final option, digging borewells if there are sources,” he added.
As per government data, 41 taluks and 104 gram panchayats are facing drinking water issues.
As on March 28, as many as 42 villages have been supplied drinking water through tankers, while 124 villages have been supplied drinking water from hired private borewells. Ramanagar district topped the chart with a maximum of 21 such villages.
Sources told DH that the entire utilisation plan for drinking water up to June 30 was ready.
“All the requirements for various lift irrigation schemes, the RDPR Jal Jeevan water schemes and the reservoirs meant for urban local bodies have been fulfilled,” the bureaucrat added.
Timings of government offices have been changed (from 8 am to 1.30 pm) in seven Kalyana Karnataka districts, alongside Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts of Kittur Karnataka region, to better cope with harsh summer.
Most districts with projected water shortage are looking at mitigating the potential crisis through private borewells and water tankers.
While pointing out that Dakshina Kannada was not staring at any major water crisis this summer, zilla panchayat chief executive officer (ZP CEO) Dr Anandh K said GPs like Naringana, Balepuni and Manjanady had financial resources to arrange for water through tankers.
Davangere ZP CEO Suresh B Itnal and his Chitradurga counterpart Somashekhar S J pointed out that private borewells had been identified in villages with a tendency for water crisis.
Mysuru ZP CEO S Ukesh Kumar said they were providing drinking water by hiring two private borewells for two villages hit by crisis, under contingency plans.
Sources quoted earlier said regional commissioners were ensuring that drinking water requirements of both urban and rural bodies were exhaustively addressed.
As and when DCs and ZP CEOs place water demands, they were being addressed by the government, the sources said.
Referring to such villages, Priyank said: “We have written to such villages asking about their legacy problems. We have created a database of places that faced trouble in the last 3-4 years.”
Taking exception to the Centre reducing allocation of funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) for this year, Khanapur-based Jagruti Mahila Okkuta activist Sharada Gopal lamented that the Union government issued orders against taking up new works from March 25, when summer had already set in.
With Karnataka being the second-most arid state in India, behind Rajasthan, systemic measures were needed to address pressing issues in the long term, she said.
THE DOS & DON’TS
*Drink enough water even when not thirsty
*Wear cotton and light-coloured clothes
*Use cooling glasses, umbrella and caps while setting out in the sun
*Avoid labour-intensive work when during periods of excessive heat (12 pm– 3 pm)
*Avoid drinks like alcohol, tea, coffee and so on that dehydrate the body
(With inputs from Naina J A, Nrupathunga S K, T R Satish Kumar, Pavan Kumar H)