News Brief
As Karnataka Reels Under Drought, Kumaraswamy Compares CM Siddaramaiah With 'Nero', Here's Why
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah. (Arijit Sen/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Karnataka is currently experiencing one of its severest droughts in recent memory.While the water shortage in Bengaluru has grabbed national headlines, the situation is particularly dire in other regions, especially in north Karnataka as per a report by The Indian Express.
In cities like Haveri and Gadag, where water sources start to dry up from March, residents are reporting having to wait for 15 days, and in some cases, even up to 30 days, for water supply from local bodies.
Gadag Deputy Commissioner M L Vyshali has stated that managing water supply for the city and nearby villages in Gadag district during the summer months has become extremely challenging.
Haveri City Municipal Council Commissioner Parashuram Chalavadi explained that the city relies on borewells for water supply due to the scarcity of water in rivers.
"We are recharging borewells by filling tanks in and around the city," he stated. Water from Heggere Kere, a large water body near the city, is being diverted to smaller tanks to recharge borewells.
In the affected regions, every container, from utensils to buckets, is being utilised to store water until the supply is restored. The situation has heightened anxiety among residents as they anticipate the peak summer months of April and May.
Meanwhile, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has stringenly criticised Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, comparing his actions to those of the Roman emperor Nero, who famously fiddled while Rome burned.
Kumaraswamy stated, "Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Siddaramaiah you are our Nero. Zero for the state. You are not worried about the people, you are only worried about the election."
Kumaraswamy accused Siddaramaiah's government of neglecting the severe drought situation in the state, stating that instead of addressing the water scarcity crisis, the government was focused on organising campaign fairs and conventions at the taxpayers' expense.
He warned that the people of Karnataka would hold the Congress party accountable for its actions and neglect of the drought-affected population.
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