Mysuru: Poor monsoon outlook triggers crop advisory for farmers

Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah presides over a meeting to review drinking water readiness and progress of kharif sowing at Mysuru zilla panchayat on Sunday (June 28). | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Amid a significant pre-monsoon rainfall deficit and the likelihood of below-normal rains in the coming months, Urban Development Minister and Mysuru-Chamarajanagar Area Minister-in-Charge (Disaster Management) Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Sunday (June 28) directed officials to advise farmers on crop planning based on weather forecasts and rainfall patterns to minimize losses.

Dr. Reviewing drinking water readiness and kharif sowing progress at the zilla panchayat, Yathindra said farmers should be encouraged to give up water-intensive crops and instead grow drought-resistant varieties like ragi, jowar and pulses in view of the uncertain monsoon.

He also asked the agriculture department to increase awareness campaigns on crop diversification and provide scientific guidelines after blight was reported in jowar fields in HD Kote and Periyapatna talukas.

With lack of rainfall raising concerns about water availability, the minister directed officials to closely monitor the drinking water situation and ensure that reports accurately reflect the ground reality. Officials were directed to make regular field visits and organize private borewells and tank supplies in villages facing shortages.

Dr. Yathindra emphasized that drinking water projects should not be considered complete until electricity connection is provided by Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation (CESC) Limited and water supply actually starts and also ordered mandatory testing of water quality supplied through private boreholes and tankers.

The Minister directed the Forest Department to expedite statutory inspections in anticipation of increased demand for new boreholes and pipeline work.

The minister also asked the officials to speed up drinking water projects under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme in Chamarajanagar district and directed the Mysuru City Corporation to prepare an assessment of drinking water problems from a corps perspective. He added that the pending electrification and pumping works for the above ground water reservoirs should be completed within fixed dates.

Sunil Bose, MP of Chamarajanagar, said that Hanur taluk, especially the villages on the edge of the forest, were facing an acute shortage of drinking water and stressed that the supplied water should be tested for potability before distribution.

Tanveer Sait, Narasimharaja MLA, urged the CESC to immediately provide electrical connection to the newly drilled borewells, while K. Harish Gowda, Chamaraja MLA, urged Mysuru City Corporation officials to respond quickly to public complaints and prevent damage to drinking water pipes during civic works.

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy said that funds under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for drinking water can be utilized only after the official declaration of drought. Until then, the available funds of the Department of Rural Development would be used to address the water shortage.

He also announced that a separate meeting chaired by local legislators would be convened to discuss drinking water issues in Mysuru city.

The meeting was attended by several legislators and senior officials of the district.

Published – 28 Jun 2026 20:23 IST