Karnataka CM to Raise Drought in Special Session, Seeks Maharashtra's Help on Bhima Water
Karnataka's Chief Minister says drought will be discussed in a special session even without BJP cooperation, and will seek Bhima water releases from Maharashtra.
Karnataka Chief Minister has said his government will place the drought situation before the legislature in a special session, and that the discussion will proceed whether or not the opposition BJP extends its cooperation.
The announcement came in response to questions about a growing drinking water crisis in Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts, where supplies are under strain because of scarce flows in the Bhima river.
To address the shortfall, the Chief Minister said he would speak with his Maharashtra counterpart and press for the release of water from reservoirs into the river.
The Bhima, a tributary of the Krishna, runs through both states, making the release of stored water a shared concern for the districts dependent on it.
No timeline was given for the special session or for the conversation with Maharashtra. The Chief Minister's remarks indicate that the government intends to keep the drought response on the legislative agenda while pursuing an inter-state arrangement for water.