Hassan, Jun 28 (UNI) The rainfall was below normal in Malnad district, including Hassan in the state, and the farmers are worried over the yield in their fields besides the drinking water shortage. According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, Hassan has received a cumulative rainfall of 116.61 mm against the normal 121 mm expected this month (up to June 27). The fall in the rate of rainfall was significant in the last week (June 20-27), when the district registered a negative departure of rainfall of 30 per cent from the normal. The normal rainfall expected during the week was 38.6 mm, while the actual rainfall received was only 27.09 mm. This has left the region’s potato growers in the lurch, who are worried about losing the crop this year. The situation in other districts of the Malnad region is worse. Chikkamagaluru district has received 25 per cent less rainfall this month (up to June 27) than normal. While, the normal rainfall is 248 mm, the district has received only 186.97 mm. Kodagu district has received only 308.46 mm of rainfall against the normal 525.7 mm registering a negative departure of 41 per cent. Shivamogga district has recorded a departure of minus 37 per cent this month. The district has received 238.68 mm of rainfall as against the normal 375.90 mm. Overall, the Malnad region, consisting of the four districts, has received 32 per cent lower rainfall than the normal that is expected for the month of June. Meanwhile. the water-level in the Hemavati reservoir at Gorur near Hasssan stood at 2,864.17 ft against the maximum level of 2,922 ft, yesterday. Last year on this day, the level stood at 2,901.50 ft. Water available at present in the reservoir is only 4.84 tmc ft, while last year on this day it was 20 tmc ft. The inflow into the reservoir is 369 cusecs, while last year on this day the inflow was 25,338 cusecs. Hassan MLA H S Prakash has said that providing drinking water to the residents of Hassan city and other areas has been difficult owing to the low water-level in the reservoir. We have to depend on borewells to fulfil the requirement. If it does not rain in a few days, the situation would turn worse, he told newspersons. UNI BSP CS