Karnataka Faces Worst Drought in Years

Karnataka is facing one of the worst droughts in recent years, with reservoirs in the Cauvery basin recording the lowest storage of water in the last six years. The state's reservoirs, including the famous KRS dam, have very low water levels, with KRS having only 17.13 tmc ft of water against its full capacity of 49.45 tmc ft.

The main reason for the poor inflow is attributed to the poor monsoon in several districts, including Kodagu, Mysore, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, and Mandya. The rainfall in these districts has been significantly lower than usual, resulting in poor water storage in the reservoirs.

The water storage in the Tungabhadra dam has fallen to 29.47 tmc ft, against its full capacity of 105.79 tmc ft. The situation is similar in other reservoirs, including Bhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, and Narayanapura.

The agricultural activities in Northern Karnataka have come to a standstill due to the drought. The districts of Bidar, Kalaburgi, Raichur, and Koppal have not received more than a couple of showers, and the farmers have had to stop their activities as the borewells have started drying up.

As a result, the farmers have started migrating to other parts of the state in search of jobs. The farmers from Vijayapura district are migrating to districts like Shivamogga, Chikmagalur, and Bengaluru, while those from Raichur and Koppal are migrating towards Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune.

The Karnataka government has convened a meeting of all MPs from the state to appraise them about the drought situation. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has appealed to the MPs to raise the concerns of drought in the state in the Parliament.

The state government is also planning to convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss the drought situation and find ways to mitigate its effects. The meeting will be held in Bengaluru and will be attended by representatives from all parties.

The drought situation in Karnataka is a matter of concern, and the state government is taking steps to address the issue. The meeting of MPs and the all-party meeting are expected to help find solutions to the problem and provide relief to the affected farmers.

The situation is being closely monitored by the state government, and efforts are being made to provide support to the farmers and other affected people. The drought has had a significant impact on the state's agriculture and economy, and it is essential to find ways to mitigate its effects.

In conclusion, the drought in Karnataka is a severe issue that requires immediate attention. The state government is taking steps to address the problem, and it is essential for all stakeholders to work together to find solutions and provide relief to the affected people.