Prepare for possible drought, drinking water crisis, Minister tells officials

With the district witnessing a prolonged dry spell and indications of a deficient monsoon, Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash R. Patil, who is also the Minister in-charge of Koppal district, on Friday directed officials to remain fully prepared to tackle any drought-like situations and ensure that drinking water needs are met on priority.

Chairing a review meeting on natural disaster management at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Koppal, Dr. Patil said contingency plans should be drawn up immediately to address possible drinking water shortages and generate employment if agricultural activities are affected due to inadequate rainfall.

“If the rainfall deficit continues, agricultural operations will decline, making it imperative to create employment opportunities under the rural job scheme. Gram Panchayats should prepare action plans in advance, and job cards should be issued to all eligible beneficiaries,” he said.

The Minister instructed Agriculture Department officials to launch an intensive awareness campaign to ensure that all eligible farmers enrol under the crop insurance scheme. He also directed the district administration to maintain adequate stocks of seeds and fertilizers in line with farmers’ demands and keep a close watch on private dealers.

Officials were asked to initiate stringent action against dealers found selling seeds or fertilizers above the prescribed rates, marketing substandard or adulterated inputs, or creating artificial shortages. They were also directed to ensure that stock availability and price lists are prominently displayed at all retail outlets.

Dr. Patil said the delayed monsoon had already affected sowing operations and could lead to an acute drinking water shortage if the situation persisted. He instructed officials to utilise available government funds to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply by hiring private borewells, deploying water tankers or drilling new borewells wherever necessary.

Reviewing the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the Minister directed officials to complete the exercise in accordance with the Election Commission’s schedule. He stressed that enumeration forms should be distributed and collected from all eligible voters, while deceased and migrated voters should be identified. He also asked officials to establish help desks at every Gram Panchayat and ward to address public queries and grievances related to the revision process.

Doddanagouda H. Patil, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Chief (Opposition) and Kushtagi MLA, drew attention to drinking water shortages in Kushtagi taluk and disruptions in water supply under the Jal Jeevan Mission. He also sought improved bus services for students and the public.

Basavaraj Rayareddi, Yelburga MLA, highlighted drinking water problems in Yelburga and Kukanoor taluks and the slow pace of sowing. He suggested constituting a district-level team headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner to tour all taluks, assess the rainfall situation, sowing progress, and drinking water availability, and submit a comprehensive report.

Deputy Commissioner Suresh B. Itnal informed the meeting that the district administration was prepared to handle any natural calamity. He said compensation had been disbursed in cases of loss of human life, farmer suicides, the death of 39 livestock, and damage to 44 houses caused by rain. He also assured the Minister that there was no shortage of funds for drinking water supply.

Joint Director of Agriculture G.D. Krishnamurthy said Koppal district had received 31% less rainfall than normal so far. Against the kharif sowing target of 3,49,892 hectares, only 1,63,546 hectares, or 47%, had been covered. He said 3,203 applications had been received under the Karnataka Raitha Suraksha Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and farmer registration was continuing. Of the 64,950 tonnes of fertilizers available for the season, 36,954 tonnes had been sold, leaving a balance stock of 27,996 tonnes as of Thursday.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Varnit Negi, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sidrameshwar, Sub-Divisional Officer Mohammed Jeelan, and district and taluk-level officers from various departments attended the meeting.