Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 2 July issued a stark warning about a potentially severe drought this year, urging farmers across the state not to rely on reservoir water for cultivation as inflows into most major water bodies have fallen to negligible levels. The alert came after a state Cabinet meeting at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru.

Reservoir Levels at Critical Lows

Shivakumar laid out alarming figures from the Cauvery basin and beyond. The Hemavathi reservoir, which held around 80 feet of water during the corresponding period last year, now stands at approximately 40 feet. Storage at the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir has plummeted from roughly 100 feet to just about 22 feet, while the Kabini reservoir has dropped from 79 feet to nearly 26 feet. Inflows into these reservoirs are currently running at only around 20 per cent of normal levels.

The situation is similarly dire across other major water bodies. Reservoirs including Tungabhadra, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Narayanpur, and Vani Vilasa have recorded virtually no inflows compared to the same period last year, the Chief Minister said.

Government's Response and Monitoring Plan

'There are indications that the country could face a severe drought this year. Inflows into most of Karnataka's reservoirs have fallen to negligible levels. I urge farmers not to sow crops depending solely on reservoir water. If rains improve, the government will ensure water is supplied,' Shivakumar said at the press conference.

To manage the unfolding crisis, district in-charge ministers have been assigned responsibility for monitoring two to three districts each. Shivakumar said he would personally tour all four administrative divisions of the state to review the ground situation. Officials have been directed to identify locations requiring emergency borewells, and district ministers have been instructed to assess both fodder availability and drinking water preparedness.

Notably, the Chief Minister added that the Centre had already cautioned states about possible shortages of water and electricity, prompting Karnataka to initiate precautionary measures ahead of a potential deepening of the crisis.

Cabinet Decisions: Power, Irrigation, and Welfare

On the proposed privatisation of electricity distribution, Shivakumar said the state government had directed all Electricity Supply Companies (ESCOMs) to file formal objections before the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC). He noted that the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had allowed private entities to seek distribution licences, on the basis of which Tata had submitted an application. The current Congress government, he said, does not support the proposal.

The Cabinet also approved ₹98.5 crore for the Bilagi Lift Irrigation Project in Bagalkote district, which is intended to irrigate around 7,000 acres. A first-phase approval of ₹320 crore out of a proposed ₹700 crore was cleared for a textile park project in Kalaburagi. Other approvals included ₹26 crore for children's eye care services under the National Programme for Control of Blindness, ₹26 crore for a Tree Park on 60 acres at NGF, ₹33 crore for sports kits and educational materials for minority students, and ₹30 crore for a Common Facility Centre at the Aerospace Park in Devanahalli.

Shivakumar also said the implementation of the Centre's VBG RAM G scheme would impose an annual financial burden of approximately ₹3,806 crore on the state. Although Karnataka has challenged the scheme, the state would implement it subject to prescribed conditions, he added.

New 'Praja Seve' Grievance Initiative Launched

The Cabinet approved the launch of a new 'Praja Seve' initiative aimed at strengthening public grievance redressal. Under the programme, district in-charge ministers will be required to visit two Assembly constituencies every month — on the first and third Saturdays — to hear grievances directly from citizens. A separate department headed by an IAS officer will be created to coordinate grievances, protests, and public petitions.

With reservoir levels at historic lows and the monsoon underperforming, Karnataka's agricultural and drinking water outlook for the coming months will hinge heavily on whether rainfall recovers in the weeks ahead.