Belagavi, DHNS: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Karnataka did not have enough water to meet the demand of Maharashtra for one tmcft to cater for the drinking water needs of Solapur and Akkalkot in the neighbouring state.

Talking to reporters at Sambra Airport here, en route to Chikkodi for a programme, the chief minister said Karnataka had urged Maharashtra to release one tmcft from Koyna reservoir into Krishna river to meet the drinking water requirements of Belagavi, Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts.

However, as a reciprocatory measure, Maharashtra has asked Karnataka to release one tmcft from the Narayanpur reservoir into Bhima river through the Indi branch canal. “But we have no water for Maharashtra,” Siddaramaiah said.

He said as the state had been been facing severe drought, Maharashtra would be requested to release 3 tmcft more water into Krishna river. The matter would be taken up with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“Maharashtra has requested for an equal quantity of water to be released from Indi canal into River Bhima for Solapur and Akkalkot, or water for Jat taluk bordering Karnataka through the Hirepadsalgi lift irrigation scheme,” he said.

The drought in the state is so severe that water is being supplied by tankers to more than 800 villages. “We are facing the most severe drought in 42 years, but compared to Maharashtra, the situation is a little better here. In the neighbouring state, water is being supplied by train; but we have been somehow managing the situation. The deputy commissioners have been directed to be in touch with the finance and revenue departments and there is a fund crunch to mitigate the drought situation, he said.

Siddaramaiah said Karnataka had urged the Centre for a drought-relief package of Rs 1,416 crore in January, but nothing had come so far. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has convened a meeting on April 22 and talks would be held with him on the drought situation.

The state Cabinet sub-committees have been visiting the districts and a report would be submitted by them later. Based on their recommendations, further measures would be taken, he said.