Depleting water, flawed designs relegate 88.6% of Karnataka under drought

In the last five years, the centre has cut 64% of the funds to Karnataka under the National Rural Drinking Water Project

Dhondiram Tukaram Sutar, 68, a farmer and social worker from Pandegaon village in Athani taluka of northern Karnataka, has 2.5 acres of farmland on which he grows jowar (sorghum) every year. Jowar is a dry-land crop that can be grown in both rabi (winter) and kharif (monsoon) cropping seasons. Last year, Sutar’s entire crop failed due to scanty rainfall, and he has been unable to sow another crop ever since.

Part of Belagavi district, Athani taluka is facing acute drought--from October 1 to December 31, 2018, Athani recorded 40.38 mm of rainfall against the average of 135.70 mm, while