Depleting water level in dams: Ashok slams government for its failure to address farmers’ concerns

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Saturday criticised the Congress government in Karnataka, headed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, for allegedly failing to address farmers’ concerns despite the rapidly depleting water levels in reservoirs across the State.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir in Mandya district, Mr. Ashok said the government had neither convened an all-party meeting nor held consultations with farmers’ representatives to discuss the worsening water situation.

Referring to the KRS reservoir, he said only about 6.7 tmcft of water remained, of which nearly 3 tmcft would be required every month to meet drinking water needs. “If evaporation losses are taken into account, there may not be enough water even for drinking purposes,” he warned.

Mr. Ashok alleged that instead of discussing the emerging drought situation, drinking water management, and the feasibility of cloud seeding, the government was in a hurry to finalise tenders worth ₹39,000 crore for garbage disposal and the proposed tunnel road project.

He also pointed out that the newly constituted Cabinet headed by Mr. Shivakumar did not have an Agriculture Minister. Besides Ministers for Agriculture and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, the State also needed Ministers to tour drought-hit districts and assess the ground situation, he said. In the absence of Ministers visiting the districts, officials too would not discharge their responsibilities effectively, he added.

The BJP leader further alleged that the Congress high command in New Delhi was awaiting “payment” before approving the appointment of Ministers to the State Cabinet.

Claiming that reservoir levels had fallen sharply within a month of Mr. Shivakumar assuming office, Mr. Ashok said more than one lakh acres of standing crops were facing water scarcity.

During his interaction with officials in Mandya district, he said he was informed that only 5% of sowing had been completed, while cultivation on the remaining 95% of the agricultural land had not commenced due to inadequate water availability.

Mr. Ashok also criticised the Chief Minister’s reported advice to farmers not to cultivate crops because of the water shortage. He contrasted this with the Congress’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his appeal to citizens to limit gold purchases during the recent conflict in the Middle East.

He challenged Mr. Shivakumar to make a similar appeal to farmers in neighbouring Tamil Nadu and criticised him for remaining silent after the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution opposing the proposed Mekedatu reservoir project.