Residents of many villages in Arsikere, Channarayapatna and Belur taluks of Hassan district are reeling under severe drought. Both villagers and cattle are facing acute shortage of drinking water, forcing the district administration make alternative arrangements for supply of water by tankers and from private borewells.
The situation is expected to worsen in the coming days as the authorities expect an increase in the number of villages requiring tanker assistance. According to information obtained from the Hassan Zilla Panchayat, drinking water is being provided this way to 18 villages as of now. Every day, 35 tanks carry water to these villages.
The most affected villages are in Javagal, Kolagunda, Bandur, Bagivalu, Arakere and Kenkere in Arsikere taluk. In Arkalgud, the villages in Katti Thimmanahalli and Honnavalli gram panchayat limits have been hit. Similarly, in Channarayapatna taluk, Kabli gram panchayat has been affected.
The taluk-level committees, headed by the respective TP executive officers, have hired the services of private tankers for Rs. 600 to Rs. 650 per trip. Besides these 18 villages, the Rural Water Supply Division of the zilla panchayat has prepared a list of another 43 villages which may soon need assistance.
As of now, according to officials, there is no problem in Hassan, Holenarsipur, Alur and Sakleshpur taluks.
The State government has provided Rs. 50 lakh to taluks to take up drought relief works. The taluk-level task forces, headed by the respective MLAs, have recommended 445 works which will cost around Rs. 3.5 crore. A majority of the works are related to drilling new borewells, making a few deeper and laying pipelines.
District in-charge Minister A. Manju recently held a review meeting and asked officials to make sure the funds are utilised. He asked them to ensure that no village is denied proper water supply.
The zilla panchayt has already drilled fresh borewells in some places. However, in a few villages, the borewells have not yielded water, forcing the officials to go for private borewells. The officials have been given a 45-day deadline to complete the drought relief works.
