Karnataka CM demands Central team as drought looms with 30% rain deficit

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to send a Central team to assess the emerging drought situation in the state. In a letter dated Tuesday, Shivakumar highlighted a widespread rainfall deficit, low reservoir storage, and growing concerns over agriculture, drinking water availability and rural livelihoods.

The Chief Minister stated that an assessment by a Central team would help evaluate the severity of the evolving drought on the ground, reassure the farming community, and facilitate timely assistance from the Union government.

Karnataka is among the country's most drought-prone states due to its agro-climatic and hydrological characteristics, Shivakumar noted. Nearly 77% of the state falls under arid and semi-arid regions, while about 84.79 lakh hectares of agricultural land is rain-fed, making crop production heavily dependent on the southwest monsoon. Around 74% of the state's annual rainfall is received during the monsoon season, making it highly vulnerable to rainfall variability and prolonged dry spells.

Referring to the India Meteorological Department's forecast of below-normal rainfall due to El Niño conditions, Shivakumar said Karnataka had received only 203 mm of rainfall against the normal 292 mm as on July 11, recording a deficit of 30%.

The rainfall deficiency is widespread, with 18 of the state's 31 districts and 141 of its 240 taluks recording deficit to large-deficit rainfall. The Malnad region, which forms the principal catchment of the Cauvery, Tunga and Bhadra river systems, recorded the highest rainfall deficit of 34%, followed by the coastal region (30%), North Interior Karnataka (24%) and South Interior Karnataka (18%).

The deficient monsoon has also affected agricultural operations. Kharif sowing covered only 28.36 lakh hectares, or 34% of the seasonal target of 84.10 lakh hectares, during the first week of July. Farmers are reluctant to continue sowing because of inadequate soil moisture and uncertainty over rainfall.

Shivakumar also expressed concern over the state's hydrological situation. As of July 10, storage in Karnataka's 14 major reservoirs stood at 303 tmcft, only 34% of their combined gross capacity of 895.65 tmcft. The shortfall in rainfall over the upper catchments could adversely affect reservoir inflows, irrigation, drinking water supply and hydropower generation in the coming months.

The Chief Minister noted that Karnataka is one of the country's leading producers of pulses, particularly tur, and warned that any significant decline in production could affect the availability and prices of pulses across the country.

He said the state government had issued crop advisories and district-specific contingency plans and directed departments to implement drought mitigation measures. It had also decided to accord the highest priority to conserving available reservoir storage for drinking water.