Karnataka stares at drought for sixth year

Mysuru: The state is unlikely to get respite from the drought, which is likely to continue for the sixth consecutive year and  may even be worse than before, according to the director of the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Dr G.S. Srinivas Reddy.

While the Indian Meteorological Department, and Sky Met, a private agency have predicted that the South West Monsoon will be 96 per cent of the normal average this year,  he points out that the state had received  only 96 per cent of the average rain the last monsoon too. “The probability of getting near normal rainfall is only 36 per cent. Going by Sky Met the rainfall in June could be normal, but below normal in July, August and September. Since the dams have hit dead storage level and there is no moisture in the soil, the drought may only worsen this year,” he  warned.  Although water level at KRS dam has dropped below  dead storage  (74 feet) as against its capacity to hold 124.80 feet, the authorities continue to claim that there will be no shortage of drinking water.