Bengaluru: With the onset of summer, drinking water scarcity has been reported at 324 villages in Karnataka, prompting the state govt to step up supply through tankers and private borewells.Seasonal drying of water sources and reduced borewell yield have contributed to the situation. Karnataka has 26,676 villages across 31 districts, covering over 1 crore households.Rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge said water is being supplied to 76 villages through as many tankers, while 248 villages are receiving water by leasing 280 private borewells. To meet immediate requirements, Rs 60 crore has been allocated. An additional Rs 48 crore has been released to clear pending bills for works undertaken under the task force in March. Another Rs 14.5 crore has been earmarked for the repair of water purification units. Officials at district, taluk and gram panchayat levels, including chief executive officers of zilla panchayats, are monitoring the situation and holding review meetings to ensure supply during the summer months. Priority is being given to preventing disruptions in rural drinking water access.Water quality testing is carried out across villages and habitation areas using field testing kits. Samples with impurities exceeding permissible limits are being retested in laboratories, and alternative safe sources are being arranged in cases of confirmed contamination. As per guidelines, priority is given to leasing private borewells, with tankers used where necessary. Measures such as flushing and deepening of borewells are also being undertaken, while new borewells will be drilled only in unavoidable cases based on geologist reports. In addition, 24/7 control rooms have been set up in zilla panchayats, and Rapid Task Forces have been formed at the taluk level to respond to issues.
