Karnataka is grappling with a severe drought and an escalating power crisis, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar warned on Monday, 14 September 2026, cautioning that shortfalls in water could ripple into drinking water supply, agriculture, and electricity generation in the weeks ahead. Speaking in his native Kanakapura, Shivakumar said he had personally surveyed drought-hit areas, with conditions confirmed at more than 200 locations across the state.

Scale of the Drought

The Karnataka government has already declared drought in 100 taluks, with the assessment process still under way in other areas. Shivakumar said water sources had declined sharply this year, crops had been damaged across several regions, and farmers had been unable to undertake sowing in many parts of the state. He cautioned that without adequate rainfall, shortages of both drinking water and electricity would deepen.

'There is a procedure laid down by the Centre. We have to make announcements regarding drought according to the rules. No one should be in a hurry,' he said, acknowledging that the formal declaration process was still in progress elsewhere.

Power Demand Hits 19,000 MW

The electricity situation has added a separate layer of urgency. Last week, Karnataka faced an additional power demand of around 19,000 MW, which the state government managed 'with difficulty', according to Shivakumar. To bridge the gap, the state was forced to purchase electricity during peak evening hours at rates of ₹11, ₹12, and ₹13 per unit — significantly above standard procurement costs.

Demand remained comparatively lower during the day but surged at night, straining the grid further. Shivakumar said he had directed the Power Minister to open discussions with neighbouring states on sourcing additional electricity. 'If power has to come from outside, it will take some time,' he acknowledged, adding that the government was also considering increasing thermal power generation.

Under the One Nation, One Grid system, electricity generated anywhere in India can be transmitted to Karnataka, though transmission and associated costs would need to be absorbed. 'People cannot live without water and power. We will not worry about the cost,' Shivakumar said.

Economic and Infrastructure Impact

The drought is already squeezing the cost of living in Karnataka, with prices of essential commodities rising. Infrastructure projects face an additional setback: the supply of jelly stones — used for road construction — from Tamil Nadu has been halted, hampering civil works. The price of jelly stones has reportedly risen by around 40 per cent.

Shivakumar also noted that investor interest in Karnataka's land, water, and power resources had increased markedly this year, adding to demand pressure on resources that are already under stress.

Special Legislative Session and Mangaluru Cabinet Meet

On the political front, Shivakumar announced that a special session of the Karnataka legislature would be convened on 21, 22, and 23 September to deliberate on the drought situation and the Kasturirangan report. He said some Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators had privately approached him requesting the session, and that the government had agreed without viewing it through a partisan lens.

Separately, the state Cabinet will hold its first meeting in the coastal region on 18 September in Mangaluru, where new announcements aimed at preventing migration from the region are expected. Shivakumar said legislators, ministers, and Lok Sabha members from the coastal belt had submitted their suggestions and that the government had taken note.

Criticising the previous BJP government, he alleged that adequate steps had not been taken to expand power generation capacity and that private agencies had been favoured instead. He said the current administration under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had already undertaken several power-sector initiatives and was weighing further measures. Shivakumar, speaking during the Gowri-Ganesha festival season, appealed to citizens to pray for adequate rainfall, expressing hope that Karnataka would see a repeat of the rainfall it received in the three preceding years.