Water Shortage in Karnataka Escalates as KRS Reservoir Levels Drop to 109 Feet

Karnataka is confronting a severe water crisis as the Krishna Raj Sagar (KRS) reservoir records a critically low water level of just 109 feet. State Agriculture Minister P.M. Narendra Swami disclosed the figures during a briefing with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

The dwindling reservoir capacity has raised alarms across the agricultural sector, where irrigation depends heavily on stored water. Swami warned that the current level is insufficient even for a single cropping cycle, let alone the multiple cycles required for the state's major cash crops.

Complicating matters, the Supreme Court has upheld an order that obliges Karnataka to release water to neighboring Tamil Nadu. This legal directive, while aimed at inter‑state water sharing, has intensified the scarcity for Karnataka's own farmers.

Swami stressed that the only realistic remedy is an increase in monsoon rainfall. In the meantime, the state will continue to evaluate water release decisions based on real‑time availability, ensuring that any allocation does not jeopardize the already fragile agricultural needs.

The Union Minister reiterated his commitment to work closely with the state, promising that the Centre will explore additional relief measures to mitigate the impact of the water shortfall on Karnataka's agrarian economy.