Karnatakas Tumakuru Faces Water Crisis Amid Significant Rainfall Deficit

Tumakuru, September 30 (Daily Kiran) : Tumakuru, located in Karnataka, is grappling with a severe water crisis following a 47% reduction in rainfall during the southwest monsoon season. From June to September, the district received only 183 mm of rain, significantly lower than the average of 347 mm. September alone recorded a staggering 77% decrease in precipitation, according to Deputy Commissioner Shubha Kalyan.

In light of these conditions, all taluks in Tumakuru have been declared drought-affected. The state government has already allocated ₹15 crore for drinking water supply and related projects in the district. The first phase of this initiative saw the release of ₹5 crore, funding 310 projects, including the drilling of new borewells and the installation of pipelines across various locations.

Additionally, ₹1 crore has been set aside for each assembly constituency, facilitating approximately 390 projects. Among these, 119 involve drilling new borewells, while 21 others aim to resume drilling at previously halted sites. The remaining projects focus on laying pipelines to supply water from borewells.

Deputy Commissioner Kalyan stated that she has inspected five taluks where work funded by the released amounts has commenced, specifically in Tumakuru Rural, Madhugiri, and Chikkanayakanahalli. Meetings are being held under the guidance of officials to ensure coordination among local administration and various departments to address the drought situation effectively.

Furthermore, approximately 4.2 TMC of water has been released from the Hemavathi reservoir in Gorur for drinking purposes in Tumakuru district.

On the agricultural front, Kalyan noted that about 70% of the designated area has seen sowing, but the low rainfall has adversely affected the cultivation of ragi. The government has been informed about the sowing conditions. A team from the central government is expected to visit the district on October 2 or 3 to assess the situation on the ground, focusing on the availability of drinking water and the status of crops.