Drinking Water Scarcity In 65 Villages Drought Situation

RAICHUR

Extreme heat has led to a significant water shortage across the district, with 65 villages severely affected. According to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, residents are appealing to Panchayat Development Officers, taluk panchayat officials, and elected representatives for immediate water supply, but claim their concerns are being overlooked, fueling public frustration.

Ranganath Police Patil, President of the State Farmers’ Association’s district unit, warned that the Krishna River is drying up, while the water level at the Tungabhadra River reservoir in Rajalabanda, Manvi taluk, is also falling, worsening the drinking water crisis along the rivers. Canal-fed lakes too are failing to meet the rising demand.

To prepare for worsening conditions, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shivanand Bhajantri said 211 private borewells have been identified across seven taluks, including Raichur, Devdurg, Lingasugur, and others. Meanwhile, Zilla Panchayat CEO Rahul Pandey stated that tanker water supply is not yet required, though some villages are depending on private tube wells.

The district has 704 RO plants, but 165 are non-functional due to poor maintenance. Officials are working on repairing these and have proposed a Rs 6 crore plan to handle water needs for the next six months. However, concerns remain that government delays could push the project’s implementation beyond the summer, aggravating the crisis.

Officials emphasized the urgent need for government approval to execute the proposed measures on time. Delay in action could worsen the water crisis and deeply impact rural communities’ livelihoods.