Water resources minister, Basavaraj Bommai, who rushed to Mumbai on Tuesdsay to meet the Maharashtra Chief Minister and persuade him to release more Koyna water for Karnataka, said the drought was getting worse as the water table had fallen by 40 to 60 per cent since January.
Observing that the drinking water problem had becoming more acute, and the fodder stock was depleting in Gulbarga , he said he had directed Deputy Commissioner, Dr R Vishal , to release the water from reservoirs such as Bhima, Bennethora, Lower Mullmari and Gandori Nala only to meet the drinking water needs of the people. "Also, we plan to supply fodder at subsidised rate from the fodder banks," he revealed, directing the CEO of the Zilla Panchayat to clear any employment generating scheme within 48 hours in resposne to petitions given by gram panchayat members with a job card.
The minister, who assessed the drought before leaving for Mumbai, also wanted the deputy commissioner and the CEO of the zilla panchayat to form separate teams and intensively tour the drought hit areas to take on the spot decisions. The Deputy Commissioner , meanwhile informed a meeting convened by the team headed by Mr Bommai and chaired in his absence by small scale industries minister, Raju Gowda, that Jewargi and Aland were the worst affected taluks in the district. "Although we are drilling borewells we are not able to reach water. And as our fodder stock will last only two weeks, we have sent teams to Sholapur and Latur in Maharashtra to get more of it, but they too have been declared drought- hit. If a ban is imposed on inter -state transportation like we have , we will be in trouble," he warned.
The DC did not apppear too pleased at having to pull out all officials from their duties to attend the meeting convened by the ministerial team deputed to study the drought. He made no bones about his displeasure saying such meetings could come in the way of carrying out relief work as the entire team of officers were present to update the team on the drought.