Overview
- Citing a letter sent Tuesday, July 14, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to depute a Central team to make an on‑ground assessment of an emerging drought.
- Official data in the letter show a roughly 30% rainfall shortfall (203 mm versus a normal 292 mm as of July 11), 303 TMC of storage in 14 major reservoirs (34% of capacity as of July 10), and Kharif sowing at 28.36 lakh hectares or 34% of the 84.10 lakh hectare target.
- Rain deficits are widespread with 18 of 31 districts and 141 of 240 taluks reporting deficit to large‑deficit rain and the Malnad catchment recording the highest regional shortfall at 34%, threatening downstream supplies for rivers such as the Cauvery.
- The Karnataka government says it has issued crop advisories, district contingency plans and given drinking water priority while the opposition BJP has demanded immediate district‑level relief and criticised the state for writing to the Centre instead of announcing direct aid.
- Meteorological forecasts link the shortfall to a strengthening El Niño and the state’s heavy reliance on rainfed farming means prolonged deficits could cut tur and other pulse output, with likely effects on national availability and prices.