Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 9 July announced that the state government will allocate ₹1 crore to every rural Assembly constituency to secure uninterrupted drinking water supply as the state grapples with a significant rainfall deficit. The announcement was made at a press conference following the Belagavi Division Progress Review Meeting at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

Key Announcement

Shivakumar made clear that Karnataka will not wait for financial support from the Centre before acting. 'To ensure that people do not face any shortage of drinking water due to inadequate rainfall, we have decided to provide ₹1 crore to every rural Assembly constituency. The funds should be utilised by local legislators after assessing the requirements and preparing suitable plans,' he said.

The Chief Minister noted that funds have already been released to Deputy Commissioners, and local MLAs and MPs have been tasked with drawing up water supply plans suited to their respective constituencies.

Drought Situation Across North Karnataka

Shivakumar's tour of north Karnataka began at the Anubhava Mantapa in Basavakalyan, the birthplace of social reformer Basavanna. He noted that while parts of Kittur Karnataka had received some rainfall, the state as a whole had not recorded normal monsoon precipitation. He also cited a Central government warning about the possibility of severe drought conditions across the country.

Review meetings were held in both Kalaburagi and Belagavi to assess conditions on the ground. More than 50 legislators and Members of Parliament participated and offered suggestions, according to the Chief Minister.

Agriculture and Fertiliser Shortfall

Officials have been directed to ensure adequate supplies of seeds and fertilisers for farmers ahead of the sowing season. Shivakumar alleged that the Central government had supplied only 50 per cent of the fertilisers required by the state, and instructed officials to maintain sufficient stocks independently. A separate review meeting on the fertiliser situation is to be held in Bengaluru with the concerned minister.

Forest Department Hurdles and Water Projects

The Chief Minister flagged a significant operational bottleneck: pipeline works for drinking water and irrigation projects are reportedly facing hurdles at more than 60 locations due to forest-related clearance issues. 'I have instructed officials that under no circumstances should drinking water projects be obstructed,' Shivakumar said.

On the question of forest rights, he stated that no community should be evicted from forest areas without following due legal process. 'People who have been living in forest areas for generations should not be displaced. They must receive the rights they are entitled to under the law,' he added.

What Comes Next

With reservoir conservation orders already issued and funds disbursed to district-level officials, the Karnataka government appears to be moving ahead of the formal drought declaration process. Water availability for irrigation in the coming months remains uncertain, and the administration's ability to clear forest-clearance bottlenecks at those 60-plus locations will be a critical near-term test.