Vinod M Jain
*Field-Level Assessment and Necessary Action.
*Personal Visits to Districts and Continuous Meetings with Officials.
*Ministers Conducted Field Inspections; Officials Maintained Continuous Monitoring: DyCM.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister,Dr.G. Parameshwara said the State Government convened a high-level meeting and initiated precautionary measures to deal with the drought situation within just three days of receiving the forecast from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
He said the drought situation has since been managed through continuous meetings from the district to the State level,field inspections,task force meetings and close coordination with officials.
Replying on behalf of the Government during the discussion on drought in the Legislative Assembly,Dr. Parameshwara responded to allegations by the Leader of the Opposition and other members that the Government had ignored the IMD’s early warning and failed to take precautionary measures.
He said the State Government received a letter from the IMD on April 13, 2026, indicating that the southwest monsoon could bring around 5% less rainfall than normal, with the possibility of drought conditions.
“The Government did not ignore that warning.Just three days later, on April 16,then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah convened a meeting of all Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the present Chief Minister, who was then Deputy Chief Minister, along with the Revenue Minister,Agriculture Minister,Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister,several other Ministers, departmental secretaries and senior officials.
Dr.Parameshwara said the then Revenue Minister had brought the IMD’s April 13 forecast to the meeting’s attention,pointing out that rainfall during the monsoon was likely to remain below normal.
Except for around five or six districts,most districts were expected to face rainfall deficiency.Although rainfall was expected to improve in August,there was a possibility of greater deficiency later,and precautionary measures were therefore discussed from the outset.
He said then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had referred to the IMD monsoon forecast in his opening remarks itself.
Since the report projected rainfall around 5% below normal,and some villages and wards were already receiving drinking water through tankers,Deputy Commissioners were instructed to ensure that no district faced a drinking water shortage.
It was also made clear that strict action would be taken against concerned Deputy Commissioners in case of negligence.
Departments including Urban Development, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj,Irrigation and Revenue were instructed to work in coordination and take the IMD forecast seriously.
Dr. Parameshwara said that all these directions were issued at a meeting of Deputy Commissioners,Zilla Panchayat CEOs and officials of concerned departments within just three days of the IMD warning.
“Therefore, it is not correct to say that the Government ignored the warning or failed to take action,”he said.
He also rejected the allegation that the Government had not held even a single meeting on drought.“In reality,the Government has continuously held meetings,reviews and monitoring exercises to deal with the drought situation,”he said.
Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar had directed all district in-charge Ministers during a Cabinet meeting to visit their respective districts,assess the drought situation and submit reports to the Revenue Minister.
Across the State, 270 district-level meetings have been held, apart from 832 task force meetings.
The Chief Minister personally conducted 8 meetings, while Dr. Parameshwara, as Revenue Minister, conducted 9 meetings, and Divisional Commissioners held 10 meetings.
Personal Visits to Drought-Affected Areas:
Dr.Parameshwara said Chief Minister,D.K.Shivakumar personally visited Chitradurga,Gadag,Bagalkote, Kalaburagi,Belagavi and Bidar districts to assess the drought situation.
Reviews were also conducted in Kolar,Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga,Chamarajanagar,
Necessary directions were issued to Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat CEOs through video conferences.
“All Ministers inspected the drought situation within their respective areas and submitted reports to me.I subsequently submitted all those reports to the Chief Minister,” he said.
Dr.Parameshwara told the House that from the moment the IMD forecast was received,the Government treated the situation seriously and initiated precautionary measures.
He said the drought has been managed through continuous meetings,field inspections,task force reviews and coordination with officials from the district level to the State level.
