Drinking water first, crops next: Yathindra on state’s drought plan

Kalaburagi: With drought conditions deepening across Karnataka due to poor rainfall, Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Monday said the govt’s top priority would be ensuring drinking water supply, with water for crops being considered thereafter based on reservoir levels.Speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi, Yathindra said rainfall had been deficient across the state and chief minister DK Shivakumar was reviewing the situation through meetings in all divisions. District ministers have also assessed local conditions and discussed measures to tackle drought and improve water management.“We have directed officials to drill borewells in areas facing acute water scarcity. Each Assembly constituency has been allocated Rs 1 crore to manage drought-related challenges,” he said.Yathindra added that arrangements for drawing water from the Ujani reservoir would be handled by ministers from the Kalyana Karnataka region.On cabinet expansion, he said the final decision would rest with the Congress high command, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and the expansion would take place once they gave their approval.