Minister Eshwar Khandre warned of strict legal action against anyone obstructing drinking water access in Bidar’s drought-hit villages.
BIDAR
As summer heat intensifies, Karnataka Minister Eshwar Khandre has issued a stern warning, anyone blocking drinking water access in parched villages will face immediate legal action. During a high-level review, the Minister noted that 43 villages across Aurad, Bhalki, and Basavakalyan are currently suffering from severe water scarcity.
The crisis has pushed groundwater levels down to a staggering 800 feet in some areas. To tackle this, the government is deploying water tankers to the hardest-hit hamlets. However, reports have surfaced of influential individuals obstructing water collection from government-funded wells on private lands. “No matter how powerful they are, file cases against them without hesitation,” Khandre told officials, emphasizing that water is a basic right.
Local teams, including village accountants and tahsildars, have been ordered to conduct morning inspections to ensure fair distribution. They are also tasked with disconnecting illegal motors that pump water away from public use. To further assist rural areas, the Minister directed the release of water from the Karanja reservoir specifically for livestock.
Beyond water, the meeting addressed the upcoming monsoon, with the Minister promising that seeds and fertilizers will be ready for farmers. He also put the fire department on high alert due to rising forest fires, ordering police to file FIRs against anyone caught starting fires deliberately. With 24 weeks of fodder in stock and plans to clear tanker bills quickly, the administration is moving fast to prevent a full-blown summer emergency.
