Karnataka Official Orders Contingency Plan as Monsoon Delay Threatens Kharif Sowing

With the southwest monsoon remaining weak and signs of a drought-like situation emerging in Kalaburagi district, senior Karnataka government official Pankaj Kumar Pandey on Saturday directed authorities to draw up a contingency plan for the ongoing kharif sowing season.

Pandey, who serves as Secretary to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Secretary to the Minister in-charge of Kalaburagi district, reviewed departmental progress at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. He instructed officials to ensure adequate stocks of seeds and fertilizers so that farmers do not face shortages if rainfall improves in the coming days.

The official asked Agriculture and Horticulture Department officials to visit villages regularly, interact with farmers, and address their concerns. Stressing the need to instil confidence among farmers affected by the prolonged dry spell, he directed officials to prevent any artificial shortage or overpricing of seeds and fertilizers.

Reviewing the water position in reservoirs, Pandey said contingency measures should be put in place to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply if the rainfall deficit persists. He directed officials to make alternative arrangements using wells and borewells wherever necessary, ensure water supply to Kalaburagi city from the Narayanpur reservoir, provide tanker water to affected localities, and maintain adequate fodder stocks for livestock.

Municipal Commissioner Avinash Shinde said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the ₹1,850-crore project to bring drinking water from the Narayanpur reservoir to Kalaburagi had been prepared. He added that the civic body was currently supplying water through about 160 tankers daily to localities facing shortages.

Joint Director of Agriculture Samad Patel reported that only 30% of the kharif sowing target had been achieved in the district due to inadequate rainfall. Against the target of 8.91 lakh hectares, sowing has progressed slowly, with several taluks yet to receive adequate rainfall. He said 20,301 quintals of seeds had already been distributed and 6,395 quintals remained in stock, while 33,725 tonnes of fertilizers were available after the distribution of 45,935 tonnes.

Patel added that surveillance had been intensified at inter-State checkposts to prevent diversion of fertilizers, including DAP, to neighbouring states. Agriculture Department teams had inspected 168 agri-input shops, issued notices to 51 for violations, and cancelled the licences of four dealers.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi said all revenue records in the district’s 11 taluks had been digitised under the Bhu Suraksha programme. Aadhaar seeding of land records had reached 84.87%, while 43,061 government land parcels had been geo-fenced under the Land Beat initiative. Pandey said the state government planned to use AI and satellite imagery to detect encroachments on government land and asked officials to achieve 100% progress in the geo-fencing exercise.

He also asked officials to identify land banks to attract industrial investment, leveraging the district’s national highways, airport, and the upcoming Surat-Chennai Industrial Corridor. He suggested encouraging industries to use treated wastewater to reduce dependence on freshwater sources.

Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Sankanur, and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting.