Bengaluru, 1 April

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on 1 April requested his Maharashtra counterpart DevendraFadnavis to release water from Vama/Koyna reservoir into Krishna river and Ujjani reservoir into Bhima river to meet the drinking water needs of north Karnataka regions.

In a letter to the Maharashtra Chief Minister, he highlighted that Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Kalaburagi, Yadagiri and Raichur districts of north Karnataka are facing severe drinking water shortage from the beginning of March 2025.

Acknowledging the support of Maharashtra Government during summer season on earlier occasions, he thanked them for responding positively in the past also to release water into Krishna river to meet the drinking water needs of human beings and livestock.

Siddaramaiah in the letter emphasised that the situation is worsening due to the present rising temperatures and the existing storage level in Hipparagi Barrage and other local reservoirs is insufficient to meet the drinking water requirements of northern Karnataka districts of Krishna basin areas till the onset of monsoon season in 2025.

"In view of the above, I request you to direct the concerned authorities to release at least 2.00 TMC water from Varna/Koyna reservoir into Krishna river and 1.00 TMC water from Ujjini reservoir into Bhima river to meet the immediate drinking water requirements of people and livestock of northern districts of Karnataka," he said.