Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Dec 28: Karnataka is already facing drought situation due to shortage of rains during monsoon. It is said that the situation will turn worse in coming summer months.

Inflow of water in most of the reservoirs of the state is depleted. It is predicted that Bengaluru will face acute drinking water shortage. Experts are advising people to use the available water sensibly.

It is said that the government has decided to use the available water only for drinking and industrial purpose. This means that the farmers will be put to hardship as they will not get water for agriculture.

According to KSNDMC in the main reservoirs of the state which have storage capacity of 895 TMC feet of water, only 394 TMC feet of water is available. The total capacity of reservoirs lying in Cauvery river basin is 114 TMC feet. However, at present there is a storage of just 52 TMC feet. It is said that last year during the same period the reservoirs had 83 TMC feet of water.

For the reservoirs to be filled, heavy rains should shower in coming months. However, sources of disaster management section of revenue department said that there are no chances of rains. The officials of disaster management also said that the farmers have used the underground water extensively by drilling borewells due to shortage of water.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that revenue minister Krishna Byregowda and RDPR minister Priyank Kharge have instructed officials to make use of private water tanker service in areas where there is shortage of water.

Former director and current scientific officer of KSNDMC G S Srinivas Reddy said, “There are possibilities of shortage of drinking water in Karnataka in coming months. Farmers are already appealed not to grow crops that require more water. Now the available water should be used sensibly. Leakage and wastage of water should be totally avoided.”