Karnataka To Hold Emergency Cabinet Meeting on Drought: CM Shivakumar
"We have received details of the situation and the schemes and measures that can be implemented during the drought," Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar said
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said he has called an emergency Cabinet meeting on July 19 to discuss the drought situation in the state and the measures to be taken to manage it.Water from dams will, for the time being, be reserved only for drinking purposes, while releases for irrigation will depend on the storage levels in the reservoirs, he said, noting pressure from neighbouring states, particularly Tamil Nadu, for the release of Cauvery river water.
"Tomorrow I have called an emergency Cabinet meeting. We had planned to hold it on Thursday but could not as I had been to Delhi. We must specially discuss the drought situation. There is a meeting with deputy commissioners of all districts, zilla panchayat CEOs and officials via video conferencing in the morning," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the measures to be taken would be discussed and decided at the Cabinet meeting later in the day.
"We have received details of the situation and the schemes and measures that can be implemented during the drought. We have also received information about people migrating from some areas due to the drought. We will discuss the situation and decide on the measures to be taken," he added.
Responding to a question on whether he had received any response from the Centre to his letter on the drought, the CM said, "Nothing as of now. I am aware that they will not respond immediately after we send a letter. We have to send more details backed by facts. We have the data and a clear picture of the situation, including the amount of rainfall received in different areas."
Shivakumar recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to depute a central team to assess the emerging drought situation in the state, citing a 30 per cent rainfall deficit, the delayed monsoon and its adverse impact on agriculture, drinking water and reservoir levels.
In the letter, he also said Karnataka had initiated drought mitigation measures but sought an early on-ground assessment by the Centre, saying timely intervention would strengthen the state's efforts to tackle the evolving situation.
Given the prevailing situation, Shivakumar said water stored in various dams across the state has been reserved only for drinking water purposes.
He said, "Whether it is farmers in Mandya or elsewhere, the water being released should not be used for agriculture. It is only for drinking purposes. Water will be released for agriculture depending on the storage levels in the dams. Don't put pressure on the government by sowing seeds expecting water to be released for agriculture."
Stating that there was pressure from Tamil Nadu for the release of Cauvery water and that a similar situation existed with regard to Tungabhadra river water, he told the state's farmers that water would be released for crops once the dams received sufficient inflows.
Responding to a question on political parties in Tamil Nadu planning to raise the Cauvery river water issue during the Parliament session, the CM said he, too, would ask Karnataka's MPs to present the state's position if the matter came up for discussion.
"Let them do their duty. I don't want to comment on that. There are many issues; let them raise them, no problem. We will also raise our concerns. I will also go to Delhi and ask our Members of Parliament to present the facts," he said.
Asserting Karnataka's rights in the Cauvery river water dispute, he said, "The Supreme Court has also said that the matter is left to the Central Water Commission. We are pursuing it. The Mekedatu project is beneficial for Tamil Nadu, not Karnataka. I am making it very clear."
When asked about the BJP and JD(S) announcing separate padayatras opposing the acquisition of farmers' land for the proposed Greater Bengaluru Integrated Township project near Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, Shivakumar said they were doing so for "political reasons".
"They started the project, and they are trying to pin the blame on me. Let them do whatever they want, whether they hold a padayatra or discuss it. That is up to them," he added.
