BENGALURU, MAY 30 : Despite the Rajapura barrage on the Krishna River in Maharashtra overflowing due to pre-monsoon rains, the river remains dry in Karnataka because the barrage gates have been closed, halting the natural flow.

This decision has aggravated villagers in Karnataka’s Krishna River basin, where the drought situation is dire in Belagavi, Bagalkot, and Vijayapura.

The Belagavi and Vijayapura district administrations rely on tankers and private borewells for drinking water, while Bagalkot depends on private borewells. In 2023, 34 out of 37 talukas in these districts were declared drought-hit by the Karnataka government.

Locals have criticised the Maharashtra government for stopping the river’s flow, exacerbating the water crisis. Although some gates were unofficially opened after requests from Belagavi officials, it was insufficient to alleviate the drought in Karnataka.

Located in Jath taluka of Sangli district, the Rajapura barrage reached full capacity last week due to moderate rainfall, initially releasing around 2,500 cusecs of water daily before the Maharashtra government ordered the closure of all gates on May 26. This action has intensified the water scarcity in Karnataka, where the Krishna River is vital for Belagavi, Vijayapura, and Bagalkot.

Ashok Chandaragi, President of the Belagavi District Kannada Organisations Action Committee, condemned Maharashtra’s actions, highlighting the severe impact on agricultural activities and drinking water supply. He called for Karnataka to address the issue urgently.

The Sangli district administration has indicated that water will be released from June 1.
Meanwhile, Karnataka continues to supply water through tankers and borewells. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to release 2-3 tmc water to alleviate the drought, but there has been no response.(UNI)