After years of drought and wilting farms, the enthusiasm over this year’s good rains is apparent. However, behind the joy of farmers — for, an additional 13 lakh hectares have been sowed this year around — lies portentous dark clouds: of a possible “hydrological drought” or a crisis in our river systems.
Though Karnataka has received good rainfall, Malnad and Coastal Karnataka have received severely deficit rainfall. The State is currently witnessing just 6 per cent deficit — considered normal otherwise — but Malnad region is seeing nearly 25 per cent lesser rain. Important catchment districts of Shivammaogga, Chikkamagalur and Kodagu are facing 34 to 45 per cent deficit.
Significant declineThis is significant considering that most of the State’s big rivers and dams are fed by the rains falling in the Western Ghats area. As a result, water levels in reservoirs on Cauvery, Tungabhadra and Kali have fallen compared to even last year, which was considered a drought year.
