Water concerns growing as summer approaches

CH NEWS

Belagavi

The district, known for its seven rivers and five reservoirs, has slightly higher water storage than last year due to timely rainfall. However, rising temperatures are leading to declining water levels, raising concerns of water scarcity in some areas.

The Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department has identified 423 villages at risk of water shortages if sufficient rainfall does not occur. The district administration has advised early preparations to tackle summer drinking water challenges.

To address the issue, the department plans to supply drinking water to 25 multi-village schemes and 40 villages in the Chikkodi division. While most rivers still have adequate water, the Krishna River’s decreasing levels are alarming for residents along its banks. If water flow from Maharashtra reduces, villages in Athani and Raibag taluks could face severe shortages by mid-April.

As of March 20, the Navilutirtha reservoir holds 15.60 TMC of water out of its 37.73 TMC capacity, while the Hidkal reservoir has 25.96 TMC out of its 51 TMC capacity. Currently, water from these reservoirs is being used solely for drinking purposes, with irrigation activities halted.

 Our multi-village drinking water schemes rely heavily on the Krishna River. As of now, the river is not facing severe depletion. We have no issues until April 15, provided Maharashtra releases water during this period. If the Krishna does run dry, villages in Athani and Raibag may face challenges, but we are prepared to handle it,” stated Pandurang Rao, Executive Engineer of the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department’s Chikkodi division.