BELGAUM: At least 26 villages in six taluks of Belgaum district are facing a severe water crisis forcing the Belgaum Zilla Panchayat to engage tankers to supply water. The situation may worsen if there is no rainfall in the next few days.

However, the situation is relatively better compared to last year. The district faced drought for three consecutive years, and the situation worsened the previous year when the Government supplied water from the Hidkal dam to villages in Gokak, Raibag, Chikkodi and Athani taluks through railway wagons. More than 150 villages faced a severe water crisis then.

Water table depleting

Though similar conditions are prevailing in rural areas this year, so far, only 26 villages are facing drinking water crisis, which has been attributed to the depletion of the groundwater table following which all water sources, including open wells and borewells, have gone dry. Of the six taluks where the drinking water crisis has aggravated, Bailhongal is the worst hit where water bodies in at least 12 villages have gone dry, followed by Ramdurg taluk where water is being supplied to six villages through tankers.

The villages to which water is being supplied by tankers are Bagewadi in Belgaum taluk; Mattikoppa, Bairanahatti, Murkibhavi, Kumarakolla, Somanatti, Hanamyanatti, Giriyal KB, Madanbhavi, Awaradi, Hannikeri, Pattihal KS and Yaragoppa in Bailhongal taluk; Sattigeri, Mugalihal and Gudamkeri in Saundatti taluk; Hiremulangi, Ramapur LT, Mudenur, Kullur, Kamanakoppa-Hosur and Obalapur in Ramdurg taluk, Kanasageri in Gokak taluk; and Bhendwad, Girinayakanawadi and Mekali in Raibag taluk.

According to official sources, the zilla panchayat is supplying a tanker load of water to each village every day.

The district administration has taken up relief works in 142 villages including 20 works in Belgaum, six in Khanapur, 23 in Bailhongal, 14 in Saundatti, nine in Ramdurg, 10 in Gokak, 16 in Hukkeri, 17 in Chikkodi, 20 in Raibag and seven in Athani taluks. A sum of Rs. 1.33 crore is being spent on the works.

The zilla panchayat has also taken up 273 relief works in as many villages in the district at a cost of Rs. 1.73 crore.

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