DK Shivakumar urges Karnataka to brace for water and power shortages

Karnataka is staring at a worrying drought, and its chief minister, DK Shivakumar, sounded the alarm on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said the monsoon rains have been far below expectations and that the state could soon feel the pinch of both water and electricity shortages.

“Rainfall has dropped dramatically,” Shivakumar said, his tone a mix of concern and resolve. “People need to be mentally prepared, but there’s no need for panic or political theatrics.” He warned that some opposition parties were trying to ride the crisis for electoral gain, a claim he asked the media to ignore.

The government, he added, is already drafting a comprehensive drought‑assessment report. “Some studies are finished, others are on the way. The Centre will look at our data, so it has to be spot‑on,” he explained, noting that the meteorological forecast had overpromised rain in several districts.

To cushion the impact, officials are pulling together emergency drinking‑water arrangements. A special session of the state legislature has been convened to discuss the crisis, and a cabinet meeting in Mangaluru this week will focus on farmer grievances and supply logistics. “More announcements will follow after we talk to the farmers on the ground,” Shivakumar promised.

So far, 101 taluks have been officially tagged as drought‑hit in the first phase, with the possibility of more areas joining the list as assessments continue. Shivakumar appealed to legislators to stay calm and to the public to conserve water, while assuring that the administration is “more concerned than anyone else” about the looming scarcity.

In short, the message was clear: brace yourselves, conserve wisely, and let the government do its part without turning the crisis into a political battleground.