Issuing a stern warning to officials against slacking or negligence in handling the drought situation, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday (July 19, 2026) said that drinking water, fodder for animals, insurance for crop losses, and sinking of borewells to mitigate water problems in rural areas should be the top priorities.

Asking officials to undertake field visits rather than being dependent on paperwork and data, he said, “Shortly, teams from the Centre will visit your areas for inspection. You should be well prepared with facts and figures and present them effectively.”

Speaking to Deputy Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers of zilla panchayats during a video conference here on Sunday, he said farmers should not suffer because of official apathy, and that any slacking or negligence would not be tolerated.

The State’s drought situation, drinking water supply, fodder availability for livestock, agricultural activities, economic activities, and employment came under review during the meeting.

The Chief Minister said, “In the coming days, we should be prepared to handle any crisis arising out of drought. We are not here to see paperwork. All the data and statistics will be cross-checked with the ground reality. So don’t just give numbers without verification.”

He added, “Our government is proactively engaging with all stakeholders to help the farming sector during this period. Karnataka is facing a massive rainfall deficit. Sowing is at 32%, and except for about six districts (of the total 31 districts in the State), all other districts are facing deficient rainfall. Water levels in reservoirs are staring at dead storage. The priority remains drinking water.”

Asking officers to visit the field to understand the ground reality and take stock of the situation, Mr. Shivakumar said that any anomaly or misdeeds would be dealt with seriously, followed by action. “Duplicate billing of borewells or raising fresh bills for already sunk borewells will not be tolerated.”

The Revenue Department, Energy Department, RDPR, and the Water Resources Department should work in tandem to mitigate the issues arising from the drought, he said.

Overall 68% rain deficit

Revenue Minister and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said that Karnataka has recorded an overall 68% rainfall deficit, with some regions experiencing up to 48% deficiency, resulting in severe drought conditions across many taluks. Groundwater levels have fallen by around 4 metres in 88 taluks, and with rainfall remaining far below normal and reservoir levels declining sharply, he warned that the situation could deteriorate further.

He also said that the number of villages dependent on tanker water supply is increasing every day, and legislators have submitted requests for sinking new borewells. He noted that in many places, drinking water is being supplied only once a week and that sinking of borewells does not guarantee water availability. “Therefore, wherever borewells are successful, motor pumps and electricity connections should be provided immediately. Rs. 329 crore is available in the PD accounts of Deputy Commissioners. “

Migration

Expressing concern over migration, Dr. Parameshwara said people from Ballari, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir and Vijayanagara districts are migrating in search of work. He directed officials to immediately begin works under the VB-G RAM G scheme to generate employment. Only 20 gram panchayats in Vijayapura have started implementation. Except in four or five districts, work under the scheme has not commenced in most parts of the State. Of nearly 5,000 gram panchayats, 2,443 have not yet started works under the programme.”

The Revenue Minister said that that 75 taluks have experienced dry weather for four consecutive weeks and directed officials to submit a report to the Central government. He also instructed them to undertake ground-truthing, which would help the State government take timely and appropriate action.

Dr. Parameshwara advised officials to discourage the cultivation of water-intensive crops such as maize and sugarcane during the drought. He also highlighted the worsening fodder shortage, noting that neighbouring states are facing similar drought conditions. He directed the Animal Husbandry Department to distribute fodder seeds to farmers who have access to water sources and to procure fodder from farmers who have cultivated it, ensuring adequate feed for livestock.