2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags: Maharashtra drought

DROUGHT’S ALARMING SITUATION

For: Mains

Topic covers: Drought, Karnataka’s situation – causes and solutions, Impact of Monsoon

News Flash

The economic survey of the state for 2018-19 has projected “a negative growth of 4.8 per cent in the agricultural sector because of the drought situation prevailing due to the scarcity of rain”.

Drought in Karnataka

Of 176 talukas, 156 have been listed as drought-hit following the failure of the northeast monsoon between October and December 2018.

Weak Monsoon

Weak monsoon rainfall over the last three years had already created drought-like conditions in much of Northern Karnataka before the weak northeast monsoon.

Southern Karnataka, which relies heavily on the southwest monsoon, is better placed with water resources.

Stored Water in reservoirs

As per Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, irrigation tanks in 11 districts have dried up.

Government’s measures

A grant of Rs 300 crore has been created for Zila panchayats and urban local bodies for relief operations.
Relief work involves drinking water supply with tankers.
The state has also appealed to the Centre for a grant of Rs 2,500 crore; Rs 950 crore has been allotted.
A new Cauvery water scheme (stage five) being implemented with Japanese funding will provide all areas in Bengaluru regular access to drinking water.

The drinking water crisis in Bengaluru

Last year, a report by the BBC listed Bengaluru at second place, behind São Paulo, among 11 cities where per capita water supply would fall below 50 litres per day. Current supply averages around 65 litres per capita per day, while civic authorities aim to provide around 150 litres per day to every household. The city requires 1,400 million litres per day and gets 1,250 MLD.

Better planned areas receive more water while poorer areas on the periphery receive only 40-45 litres per day at present. Outlying areas are entirely dependent on private water tankers. Due to the depletion of groundwater, even borewells are running dry.

The long-term solution to the drinking water crisis

One possibility is conservation of forests like the Western Ghats, where rivers such as the Cauvery originate, so as to mitigate the effects of climate change. The failure to protect the Western Ghats, and the unabated deforestation in the catchment of rivers like the Cauvery, have impacted rainfall patterns and reduced water flows.

Source: Indian Express

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