Kalaburagi’s Deputy Commissioner Ikram Shariff directed officials to ensure immediate supply of drinking water through hired borewells in rural and urban areas facing water scarcity in the district.

Chairing a meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority on May 12, he instructed officials to identify villages that had faced drinking water problems over the last three to four years, and monitor them to prevent a shortage during the peak summer period.

“We are living in the 21st century. Failure to provide adequate drinking water even today reflects administrative failure,” Mr. Shariff said, stressing that any drinking water issue in rural or urban areas should immediately be brought to the notice of the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, and the Directorate of Urban Development Cell (DUDC).

He directed officials to flush old borewells wherever possible, and said tanker supply should be the last option. “Half the summer season has already passed. The next one month will be crucial. Water is essential for all forms of life. There should be no negligence in this matter,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner instructed tahsildars to complete the summer crop survey by the end of the week.

Executive Engineer of the Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Department Jagadeva Jeevanagi informed the meeting that 26 villages in the district were currently facing drinking water problems, and water was being supplied through hired borewells. In response, Mr. Shariff directed officials to maintain proper records and execute agreements with farmers from whom borewells were being hired.

KUIDFC Superintending Engineer R.P. Jadhav said Kalaburagi city was currently receiving 60 MLD of water from the Bhima river and 22 MLD from Bennethora. “However, water from the Bhima river would last only for another 22 days. There could be a crisis if the monsoon is delayed,” he said suggesting the need for seeking precautionary release of water from the Narayanpur reservoir.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Bhanwar Singh Meena told PDOs to act responsibly in handling drinking water issues in rural areas. He warned them against citing shortage of funds as an excuse. He said there is no shortage of funds, and work could be taken up after approval from task force committees. He added that KKRDB had released ₹17.30 crore for the district, and seven government tankers were available for water supply in rural areas.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi stressed on the need to create awareness among people to prevent death by lightning strikes. He directed officials to intensify awareness campaigns on heatwave-related precautions.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner reviewed the water levels in Sonna Barrage, Amarja, Bennethora, Chandrampalli, Gandori Nala and Lower Mullamari reservoirs with engineers.

Municipal Commissioner Avinash Shinde, Assistant Commissioners Sahitya Aladakatti and Prabhureddy, tahsildars, taluk panchayat executive officers, and other district-level officials attended the meeting.