The prevailing drought is not restricted to dry areas in the district. Its effects are worse in the Malnad region that comprises of a number of areas which receive good rainfall. For the first time in many years, people in Alur and Sakleshpur taluk are struggling to get drinking water. In some places, the situation is so dire that people have resorted to going in search of ducts or drains to fetch water for their daily needs.
Villages in Mallapur Gram Panchayat (GP) in Alur taluk, Aiguru, Belagodu and Kuniganahalli GPs in Sakleshpur taluk are facing severe problems owing to the drought. Authorities are making all arrangements to ensure that water reaches the residents through tankers and private borewells.
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department drilled five borewells last year to provide water to residents of Yaragalale, Kittageri and Kuregal habitations in Mallapur GP in Alur taluk. However, all these borewells failed to yield any water. “For the past one year, we have been providing drinking water to the villagers with the help of two private borewells. We are providing nominally for the private borewell owners,” said K. Harish, Panchayat Development Officer of Mallapur GP.
When The Hindu visited Kittageri, residents were carrying empty containers to distant places in search of water. Manjaiah, resident of Kittageri, said, the villagers were all dependent on handpumps which hardly manage to pump any water from the ground. “There are two private borewells, who provide water to the public only once in four-five days. Moreover, we have to go and request them for water,” he said.
The actual rainfall recorded in Alur and Sakleshpur taluks since January this year is lower than expected. As per the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Alur registered a deficit of 34 per cent till May 10, while Sakleshpur recorded 56 per cent deficit. This deficit has worsened an already deteriorating situation.
When The Hindu visited Aiguru in Sakleshpur taluk, Eeramma and Dyammavva were fetching drinking water from a drain in an agriculture field. “We know that the water available in the drain is not good for drinking. But, what can we do? We have no other source of water,” said Eeramma. The villagers are dependent on the drains and ducts where water gets collected during rainfall.
Alur-Sakleshpur MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu, “There has been a perception among the public that Malnad taluks do not face water shortage. We are providing water for residents of Krishnapura near Hebbasale through tankers. The funds made available for drought relief is insufficient to meet the needs,” he said.
People in Alur and Sakleshpur taluks are struggling to get drinking water
