CM Siddaramaiah Launches 'Praja Seva Ilakhe' for Drought Relief
Synopsis
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar, at a Chitradurga review meeting on 25 July 2026, announced the 'Praja Seva Ilakhe' public service department for bi-monthly constituency grievance hearings, directed ministers to prioritise drought management, capped rural drinking water spending at ₹1 crore per constituency, and stated Karnataka cannot release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu amid the ongoing drought.
Key Takeaways
Praja Seva Ilakhe , a new public service department, will hold grievance hearings on the first and third Saturday of every month in each assembly constituency, led by district in-charge ministers.
Each rural constituency may spend up to ₹1 crore on drinking water supply; all borewell and RO plant decisions must be recorded with GPS data and full transparency.
Karnataka has told the inter-state committee it cannot release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as reservoirs — except Almatti — are critically low due to drought.
CM DK Shivakumar has briefed PM Modi on the drought; the Deputy CM will soon lead a delegation to New Delhi to present ground-level conditions.
A Cabinet expansion is expected within the week, after which all ministers will jointly review the drought situation across the state.
The Karnataka Assembly session postponed due to an SIR is expected in the second week of August 2026 , possibly around 6 August .
The Chief Minister's Office of Karnataka announced on Saturday, 25 July 2026 that the state government will establish a new public service department — 'Praja Seva Ilakhe' — to address citizen grievances at the constituency level, while simultaneously directing all ministers to treat drought management as their foremost administrative priority. The announcement was made by Chief Minister DK Shivakumar during his opening remarks at the Bengaluru Regional Division-level development progress review meeting held in Chitradurga.
Context
Speaking at the Chitradurga review meeting, CM Shivakumar called on all government functionaries to work as 'Team Karnataka' — a unified administrative force committed to reshaping governance. He stated that the Praja Seva Ilakhe would convene on the first and third Saturday of every month in each assembly constituency, chaired by the respective district in-charge minister, to hear and resolve public grievances. 'Applications submitted by citizens must receive attention until a resolution is reached,' he said, adding that ministers must tour all constituencies and accept petitions from legislators of any party.
The meeting in Chitradurga follows similar review sessions held earlier in Kalaburagi and Belagavi, continuing the government's practice of taking administrative review outside Bengaluru to regions directly affected by drought.
Policy Backdrop
Karnataka is grappling with a severe drought linked to El Nino effects, a concern Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also flagged at the national level. CM Shivakumar confirmed he has already briefed the Prime Minister on the state's drought situation, and that the Deputy Chief Minister will shortly lead a delegation to New Delhi to present ground-level conditions to the PM. On Cauvery water, the CM was unequivocal: 'Except for Almatti, no other reservoir has adequate water, and it has been stated before the committee that releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu is not possible.'
As decided at the earlier Belagavi meeting, each rural constituency may spend up to ₹1 crore on drinking water supply. Any new borewell drilled must have its GPS coordinates and electricity connection details logged transparently. The CM urged that RO plant repairs be prioritised and that neither people nor livestock face a shortage of drinking water or fodder.
Farmers were specifically advised not to depend on the next rains or reservoir water before sowing crops. Officials have been directed to actively work on crop insurance enrolment to protect agricultural livelihoods during the drought period.
Stakeholders and Impact
The creation of Praja Seva Ilakhe is intended to bring the government closer to rural and semi-urban citizens who currently have limited access to ministerial redress mechanisms. The bi-monthly constituency-level hearings, led by district in-charge ministers, are designed to cut through bureaucratic delays and ensure that petitions do not remain unresolved. Legislators from all parties — ruling and opposition — are to be included in the process, signalling a cross-party outreach approach.
The government is also reviewing the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to verify that funds are not flowing into duplicate or fraudulent accounts. Separately, a framework is being prepared to rename and restructure 'VBG Ram Ji', with the state government committed to funding 40 per cent of the cost. CSR grants are being considered for rural school development as part of the broader administrative restructuring.
What's Next
A Cabinet expansion is expected in the coming week, after which all ministers are to jointly review the drought situation across the state and ensure that farmers in villages are not adversely affected. The Karnataka Legislative Assembly session, which had been postponed due to a Special Investigation Report (SIR), is now expected to be held in the second week of August 2026, possibly around 6 August. The session is expected to take up drought relief funding and implementation decisions. CM Shivakumar expressed his aspiration that the Chitradurga meeting, like those in Kalaburagi and Belagavi, will yield productive outcomes for drought management across the state.
Point of View
Especially in drought-hit rural constituencies. The firm stance on Cauvery water releases — backed by reservoir data — also serves a dual purpose: it responds to genuine water scarcity while reinforcing the government's credentials with Karnataka's farming community before the session. Whether the new grievance mechanism translates into measurable relief or becomes another layer of bureaucracy will depend on the pace of the anticipated Cabinet expansion and the funding decisions in the August session.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Praja Seva Ilakhe in Karnataka?
'Praja Seva Ilakhe' is a new public service department announced by Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar that will hold grievance hearings on the first and third Saturday of every month in each assembly constituency, chaired by the district in-charge minister, to resolve citizen complaints until a solution is reached.
Why is Karnataka not releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu?
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar stated that, except for the Almatti reservoir, no other reservoir in the state has adequate water due to the ongoing drought linked to El Nino, and this position has been communicated to the relevant inter-state committee.
How much can Karnataka constituencies spend on drinking water during the drought?
As decided at the earlier Belagavi meeting, each rural assembly constituency can spend up to ₹1 crore on drinking water supply infrastructure, with all decisions — including GPS details of new borewells and electricity connections — required to be recorded transparently.
When is the Karnataka Cabinet expansion expected?
CM DK Shivakumar indicated that the Karnataka Cabinet expansion is expected in the week following the 25 July 2026 Chitradurga meeting, after which all ministers are to jointly review the state's drought situation.
When will the Karnataka Assembly session be held after postponement?
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly session, postponed earlier due to a Special Investigation Report (SIR), is now expected to be held in the second week of August 2026, possibly around 6 August, where drought relief measures are likely to be a key agenda item.
