With Mysuru district recording a steep rainfall deficit during the pre-monsoon season, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy on Wednesday directed officials to draw up an immediate contingency plan to avert a possible drinking water crisis.

Presiding over the District Disaster Management Authority meeting at the Zilla Panchayat office, the Deputy Commissioner said deficient rainfall in April and May had raised concerns over water availability if the dry spell continues.

While reservoir storage is expected to meet drinking water requirements until July, he cautioned officials against complacency and called for preventive measures in advance. “Plans should be prepared to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply. Water must be used judiciously and wastage prevented,” he said.

Local bodies were instructed to identify areas vulnerable to water scarcity and prepare a list of private borewells that could be tapped during emergencies. Officials were also asked to keep contingency measures ready, including borewell re-drilling, digging of new borewells, tanker-based water supply and extension of drinking water pipelines.

Mr. Reddy directed officials to respond promptly to public complaints related to drinking water shortages, warning that unattended minor issues could escalate into major problems.

Highlighting the rainfall situation, Joint Director of Agriculture Ravi said Mysuru recorded an 85 per cent rainfall deficit in April and a 24 per cent shortfall in May so far.

He said around 38,000 hectares of tobacco crop had already been sown in the district, much of it dependent on borewell irrigation. There was no shortage of seeds or fertilisers and that contingency plans had been prepared to promote climate-resilient crop varieties if delayed monsoon conditions push sowing activities to September.

Crop-wise advisories on urea and fertiliser requirements per hectare have also been issued, while distribution is being monitored through a dedicated application, he said.