The failure of monsoon and severe drought for three consecutive years has resulted in Karnataka rationing water for drinking and irrigation purposes. Having just 4 tmc of water left in the Cauvery basin reservoirs, the Government has taken a very harsh measure of water rationing which will create hardship to the people here. The IT city of Bengaluru has to bear the brunt of the water rationing.
Speaking to media in Bengaluru on Monday, Karnataka Water Resources Minister MB Patil said that with optimum utilisation and judicious use of water, along with proper planning and coordination, the Department will ensure that water is supplied to all. He also said that if water is rationed, it will be availabile till June.
The Minister said “We have severe drought in Karnataka and this is for the third consecutive year. Our priority is that the cities or the multi village schemes or towns where we are supplying water from our dam is not affected.”
Appealing to farmers to stop using pumpsets, he advised them to use water judiciously as the water levels in almost all the reservoirs is just enough to meet the drinking needs.
However, he said that with optimum utilisation of water along with proper planning and coordination, the department will ensure that water is supplied to all.
According to the data, there is a total of 7.748 tmc in Cauvery reservoirs - Krishna Raja Sagar, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathi.
The Minister said combining Krishna Raja Sagar and Kabini, water availability is 4.7 tmc, and the water requirement of Bengaluru city is 800 cusecs per day.
“For the next 60 days, we have to give 800 cusecs per day. BWSSB requires 6,000 cusecs, but we have calculated transmission losses and in between multi village schemes. Hence for giving 800 cusecs for 60 days upto June 15, we require 4.1 to 4.5 tmc and what we have is 4.7 tmc. So we can manage until then,” he said.
On rationing of water, he said the Water Resources Department would coordinate with all the departments and district administration and as a team effort they will try to ensure that there is efficient use of water.