Karnataka Cabinet to meet on July 19 to discuss drought situation
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the drought situation in Karnataka and the measures to be taken
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Sunday to discuss the drought situation in Karnataka and the measures to be taken to manage it. This will be preceded in the morning by a video conference with deputy commissioners, zilla panchayat CEOs and officials on the emerging drought situation. Addressing reporters here on Saturday after arriving from New Delhi, he said the government would, for the time being, reserve water stored in reservoirs exclusively for drinking purposes, while any release for irrigation would depend on storage levels. He also said Karnataka was facing pressure from neighbouring States, particularly Tamil Nadu, for the release of Cauvery water. News of migration The Chief Minister said the Cabinet would review the situation based on reports received from the districts and decide on relief measures.
“We have also received information about people migrating from some areas due to the drought. We will discuss the situation and decide on the measures to be taken,” he added. Asked whether the Centre had responded to his letter seeking assistance, the Chief Minister said there had been no response so far. “We do not expect an immediate reply after sending a letter. We have to furnish detailed factual information. We have the necessary data, including rainfall figures from different parts of the State,” he said. Shivakumar had recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to depute an inter-ministerial team to assess the emerging drought situation. In the letter, he cited a 30% rainfall deficit, delayed monsoon, declining reservoir levels and the adverse impact on agriculture and drinking water.
He said the State had already initiated mitigation measures but sought an early Central assessment to strengthen its response. Demand from farmers Reiterating the government’s stand on water management, Mr. Shivakumar appealed to farmers not to sow crops in the expectation of irrigation releases. “Whether it is farmers in Mandya or elsewhere, the water being released now is only for drinking purposes. Water for irrigation will be considered depending on the storage levels in the reservoirs. Farmers should not put pressure on the government by sowing crops expecting irrigation water,” he said. He added that Karnataka was also facing demands from Tamil Nadu for Cauvery releases and from downstream users of the Tungabhadra river, but assured farmers that irrigation water would be released once there were adequate inflows into the reservoirs.
The BriefWire