Severe Water Shortage Hits Malaprabha River Basin
The Malaprabha river in Karnataka has completely dried up, plunging farmers and riverside villages into a severe crisis. According to officials, the river's flow has ceased due to inadequate monsoon rainfall and critically low storage levels in the Naviluteertha reservoir.
This year, the monsoon has been particularly weak, with rainfall deficits exceeding 40% in the catchment area. As a result, the reservoir, which supplies water for irrigation and drinking purposes, has only 15% of its live storage capacity filled, far below the normal 60% for this time of year.
Farmers Left Without Water for Crops
Farmers in the region, who rely on the river for irrigating crops such as paddy, sugarcane, and maize, have been left helpless. Many have reported that their fields are parched and that they have no alternative water sources. "We have not received any water from the reservoir this season. Our crops are wilting, and we are staring at a complete loss," said Basavaraj, a farmer from the village of Yaragatti.
The distress is not limited to agriculture. Villages along the riverbanks are facing severe drinking water shortages. Tanker supplies have been arranged, but they are insufficient to meet the demand. Local authorities have declared the region as drought-affected and are seeking emergency relief from the state government.
Government Response and Future Outlook
The Karnataka government has announced a compensation package of Rs 10,000 per hectare for affected farmers, but many say it is inadequate. "The compensation is too little and too late. We need immediate water supply and long-term solutions like check dams and rainwater harvesting," said Shankar, a farmer leader.
Officials have warned that the situation may worsen if the monsoon does not pick up in the coming weeks. The India Meteorological Department has forecast below-normal rainfall for the region in July, raising fears of a prolonged drought. In the meantime, the government has urged farmers to shift to less water-intensive crops and adopt drip irrigation.
The Malaprabha river, a tributary of the Krishna, is a lifeline for thousands of farmers in the Belagavi and Dharwad districts. Its drying up highlights the growing vulnerability of the region to climate change and erratic rainfall patterns.
