Rains have remained almost absent from entire Karnataka for the past few days. While the residents of the state continue to wait for good showers, lives of several villagers have been thrown out of gear due to severe drought in the region.
As per a report by Times of India, Karnataka Drought has been affecting around 600 villages as rains continue to give the area a miss.
Most of these villages lie in North Karnataka. Out of 176 taluks in Karnataka, 135 of them have been reeling under severe drought conditions.
As per the residents of the villages, there is not even a single drop of water, and some of them are even migrating as water despair only increases.
While villagers have been complaining that little help has come their way in this regard, on paper, reports have a different story to tell.
The only source of drinking water for these villagers is the supply through tankers. As per reports, at least, one tanker is sent to villages every day, according to villagers, a tanker is only seen thrice a week. The only other way villagers get to drink water is by walking a few kilometers to a pond every day.
Water levels in 13 dams are hitting rock bottom. Villagers have been forced to postpone events like weddings. Not only this, but the residents have also been skipping bath due to severe water scarcity in the region. Not only people but animals have also been bearing the brunt of the conditions.
As per officials, the situation in the cities is all the worse due to the size and consumption needs. Cities including Mysore and Bengaluru can only be assured to receive water until June end. After that, the fate of these cities will be dependent on rains.
The main reason for water scarcity is prolonged dry spell over the state. Due to this about 10,000 borewells have dried before the advent of summer.
However, rains are not the only factor. In fact, population growth, rapid urbanization, agricultural expansion, poor water governance and strong industrial growth are also to be blamed.
Cropping patterns have also been blamed for the prevailing water scarcity in Karnataka. Cultivation of cash crops like sugarcane, banana, and rice requires a lot of water.
As per the CM of Karnataka, an expenditure of Rs. 45,000 crore is needed to cater to the water needs of six crore people in Karnataka.
Image Credit: indianexpress.com
