Minister for Urban Development Yathindra Siddaramaiah presiding over a meeting to review drinking water preparedness and kharif sowing progress at the zilla panchayat in Mysuru on Sunday (June 28).
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Amid a significant pre-monsoon rainfall deficit and the likelihood of below-normal rainfall in the coming months, Urban Development Minister and Mysuru-Chamarajanagar district in-charge Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Sunday (June 28) directed officials to advise farmers on crop planning based on weather forecasts and rainfall patterns to minimise losses.
Reviewing drinking water preparedness and kharif sowing progress at the zilla panchayat, Dr. Yathindra said farmers should be encouraged to shift away from water-intensive crops and instead cultivate drought-resilient varieties such as ragi, jowar and pulses in view of the uncertain monsoon.
He also asked the Agriculture Department to step up awareness campaigns on crop diversification and provide scientific guidance after downy mildew was reported in jowar fields in H.D. Kote and Periyapatna taluks.
With the rainfall deficit raising concerns over water availability, the Minister instructed officials to closely monitor the drinking water situation and ensure that reports accurately reflect ground realities. Officials were directed to make regular field visits and arrange private borewells and tanker supply in villages facing shortages.
Stressing that drinking water projects should not be considered complete until power connections are provided by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) Limited and water supply actually begins, Dr. Yathindra also ordered mandatory quality testing of water supplied through private borewells and tankers.
The Minister directed the Forest Department to expedite statutory clearances anticipating increased demand for new borewells and pipeline works.
The Minister also asked officials to fast-track drinking water projects under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme in Chamarajanagar district and directed the Mysuru City Corporation to prepare a ward-wise assessment of drinking water problems. Pending electrification and pumping works for overhead water tanks should be completed within fixed timelines, he added.
Sunil Bose, Chamarajanagar MP, said Hanur taluk, particularly forest fringe villages, was facing acute drinking water shortages and stressed that water supplied should be tested for potability before distribution.
Tanveer Sait, Narasimharaja MLA, urged CESC to provide electricity connections to newly drilled borewells without delay, while K. Harish Gowda, Chamaraja MLA, called on Mysuru City Corporation officials to respond promptly to public complaints and prevent damage to drinking water pipelines during civic works.
Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy said funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drinking water could be utilised only after an official drought declaration. Until then, available Rural Development Department funds would be used to tackle water shortages.
He also announced that a separate meeting chaired by local legislators would be convened to review drinking water issues in Mysuru city.
Several legislators and senior district officials attended the meeting.
Published – June 28, 2026 08:23 pm IST