Bengaluru: Despite the weathermen predicting a good monsoon across the state, the revenue department believes there could be drought in many parts, including the Malnad and coastal region, which could have a drinking water crisis.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Revenue Minister, Kagodu Thimmappa said that barring the Almatti catchment area, none of the other catchment areas, including the Cauvery basin, had received adequate rain so far.
The government had even discussed cloud seeding at the last cabinet meeting to offset the poor monsoon, but noted that previous cloud seedings did not result in good harvest.
“Only the cloud seeders harvested rich dividends,” the minister quipped, adding that if the rain continued to play truant, even Malnad and the coastal areas could face an acute water shortage. The only solace was that while most districts had lesser than normal rainfall, those areas which suffered a severe drought last year, were now wetter than usual, he said.
Referring to bagair hukum cultivators, he said tahashildars had been directed to issue them land right papers after holding discussions with them. “We have asked the tahashildars to hold meetings with the bagair hukum cultivators and give them a hearing. If they fail to conduct these meetings in the next three months, they will invite stringent action,” Mr Thimmappa warned.
As for the anti-superstition bill, he said it was difficult to introduce it as it was hard to convince people not to be superstitious. “The sub-committee will submit its report to the government in a month and it will be discussed in the cabinet,” he added.
