On July 19, Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will convene an emergency Cabinet meeting to tackle the state’s worsening drought situation. The meeting will discuss measures to manage the crisis, including the reservation of dam water for drinking purposes only. Shivakumar announced this decision, citing pressure from neighboring states, particularly Tamil Nadu, for the release of Cauvery river water. The Chief Minister will also hold a video conference with deputy commissioners, zilla panchayat CEOs, and officials to assess the situation.
Shivakumar informed reporters that the Cabinet meeting will deliberate on the drought situation and decide on the necessary measures. The state has received details of the affected areas and potential schemes to mitigate the crisis. The Chief Minister has also been informed about people migrating from certain areas due to the drought. He emphasized that water releases for irrigation will depend on the storage levels in the reservoirs.
Recently, Shivakumar wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to send a central team to assess the drought situation in Karnataka. The state has initiated drought mitigation measures but seeks the Centre’s intervention to strengthen its efforts. Given the prevailing situation, Shivakumar has reserved water stored in dams for drinking water purposes only. He cautioned farmers against sowing seeds expecting water to be released for agriculture, stating that water will only be released for crops once the dams receive sufficient inflows.
The Chief Minister also addressed the pressure from Tamil Nadu for the release of Cauvery water, stating that Karnataka’s MPs will present the state’s position if the matter is raised in Parliament. Shivakumar asserted Karnataka’s rights in the Cauvery river water dispute, citing the Supreme Court’s decision.
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📰 Source: Sahil Online