Mysuru: District minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Thursday directed officials to prepare comprehensive action plans to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply in Mysuru district, citing a 58% rainfall deficit and the possibility of drought conditions persisting until next June.Chairing a review meeting at the Mysuru City Corporation Zone-3 office in Sharadadevi Nagar, he instructed officials to prioritise filling lakes with water released from reservoirs following the recent rains. Recharging lakes, he said, would help improve groundwater levels and replenish borewells, particularly in rural areas. He also stressed the need for innovative measures to recharge groundwater in urban areas.Yathindra asked officials to remain prepared for a prolonged drought and formulate contingency plans well in advance. He warned that declining groundwater levels could reduce borewell yields, making it necessary to rely on public and private water tankers if the situation worsens. He also directed officials to regularly conduct chemical and biological tests of water drawn from new borewells and existing drinking water sources to prevent water-borne diseases.Referring to the agricultural sector, the minister said the agriculture department has been advising farmers to avoid water-intensive crops such as paddy and sugarcane and instead cultivate less water-intensive crops, including ragi, jowar and other millets. He urged officials to continue creating awareness among farmers about sustainable cropping patterns suited to drought conditions.Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda called for equitable distribution of water while filling lakes and urged local bodies to strengthen solid waste management across Mysuru.DC G Lakshmikanth Reddy said drinking water is currently being supplied through tankers to six wards in Hootagalli, two wards in Bogadi and five wards in Rammanahalli. He added that agricultural sowing had declined to 1.6 lakh hectares this year from 2.2 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year due to deficient rainfall.Minister visits drought-hit villagesYathindra Siddaramaiah visited several drought-hit villages in Nanjangud taluk, where he observed standing kharif crops that had withered due to scanty rainfall. He said the govt would soon initiate relief measures in the affected areas. The minister is scheduled to visit villages in Hunsur taluk on Friday. During the visit, residents of Nanjangud appealed to the minister to direct officials to release water from the Kabini dam into canals, as the reservoir has reached full capacity. They said the water could be used to fill lakes and improve groundwater levels in the region.
