Karnataka is facing a drinking water crisis this summer, with 6,380 villages at risk, according to government data.
Among them, Shivamogga in the Malnad region is expected to be the hardest hit. Of these, 2,100 villages are in the seven Malnad districts, which typically receive the highest rainfall in the state. Environmentalists argue that the crisis is linked to a steady decline in green cover. In addition, the arid Kalyana Karnataka region, which is known for its dry conditions, has 1,325 villages that could face severe water shortages.
Shivamogga tops the list with 649 vulnerable villages, followed by Hassan (581), Raichur (512), Mandya (473), Uttara Kannada (411), Kolar (333), Chitradurga (321), Chikkamagaluru (271), Chikkaballapur (269), and Kalaburagi (266). The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department has identified these villages based on data from previous years.
Experts and environmentalists highlight the impact of unchecked development in the Malnad region. Shivananda Kalave, an environmentalist from Sirsi, explained that in the Malnad region, forests traditionally maintain the groundwater table. However, as green cover decreases and the human population grows, rainwater is no longer being absorbed by the ground. Instead, it runs off the surface, worsening the water scarcity.
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In response to the crisis, some districts have already begun supplying drinking water through tankers. Currently, 68 gram panchayats in 10 districts —primarily in the old-Mysuru and Kalyana Karnataka regions—are using tankers to supply water to 83 villages. The RDPR department has mobilised 1,344 tankers and 3,683 private borewells across the state to assist with water supply during this crisis.
Anjum Parwez, the RDPR Additional Chief Secretary, reassured that the situation this year will not be as severe as the previous year. The India Meteorological Department has predicted good pre-monsoon showers, and the state’s reservoirs have sufficient water. The government has set aside ₹250 crore for contingency measures, although drilling new borewells will be a last resort.
In Raichur, where 512 villages are at risk, over 300 villages depend on canal water. Rahul Tukaram, the CEO of Raichur Zilla Panchayat, stated that these villages are vulnerable because the borewells are unreliable due to hard water content, including nitrates and arsenic. The district has planned to fill water tanks with river water and has instructed each gram panchayat to identify two to three reliable borewells.
Mandya is also facing water challenges. Nandini KR, Mandya Zilla Panchayat CEO, said they are already using water from seven private borewells to supply four gram panchayats. A task force, led by the deputy commissioner, holds regular meetings to monitor the situation and ensure water quality.
Shivamogga’s Deputy Commissioner, Gurudatta Hegade, confirmed that they have enough funds to tackle the water crisis effectively.
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