Solan (The Hawk): To promote public awareness and global response,17th June is observed as World Day to combat Desertification and Drought .Land degradation in arid,semi-arid and dry sub humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities is defined as Desertification, UNCCD(2013). Scientists have estimated, by 2050 drought may affect over three quarter of the world population. The number and intensity of drought has increased by 29 percent since 2000 compared to two previous decades. More than 2.3 Billion people faced water stress between 1900 and 2019 due to change in land use pattern&nbsp;and increase of Earth temperature. According to a report drought has impacted 2.7 Billion people in the world and&nbsp;has been attributed as a major cause of&nbsp;death of 11.7 million people around the globe. “Human activities are responsible for causing Global warming with increase of earth temperature to 1 degree centigrade (.8 to 1.2 degree centigrade above pre industrial level)”,IPCC ,2018 .The carbon footprint due to anthropogenic activities like deforestation, mining, land use, wetland ecosystem loss, urbanization, industrialization and over exploitation of natural resources are some of the human activities responsible for release of GHGs in the atmosphere.From the pre- industrial period the carbon concentration has increased from 280 PPM to 390. 5PPM&nbsp;( 40% increase), Nitrous oxide 271 PPM to 324.20 PPM ( 20% Increase) , Methane from 722 PPM to 1803 PPM ( 150% increase.). Equally increase in emission of other GHG’s like CFC, HCFC, Sulfur hexa fluoride, carbon tetra chloride and other fluorinated gases have been observed in the atmospheres&nbsp;which are further&nbsp;adding fuel to the fire. The whole phenomenon with Green house effect is heading the human society towards global warming of this unique Planet, only one earth; ultimately dragging the world towards climate change with increase in evapotranspiration ultimately to desertification and drought severity.Deforestation and degradation means 2.4 Billion tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere as&nbsp;the process of absorption of fossil fuel is considerably affected. Tropical rain forests produce 40% of Earth’s oxygen.One can easily make out the situation if drought situation are allowed to prevail or mitigation measures are put in place with snails speed, how these Forsests ecosystem will be impacted and what harm to the eco service these forests render to the globe.India is 12 mega biodiversity country with 2.4%&nbsp;of global geographical area&nbsp;and habitat which supports to 7 percent of world biodiversity.According to Economic survey report 2018 ,around 52% of India’s total land under agriculture is still un irrigated and desertification seems to a great threat for its productivity which will be&nbsp;reducing the income between 20-25 percent. 80 percent of employed women in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) depend on agriculture for&nbsp;livelihood. Desertification will adversely effect their sustenance. Further&nbsp;mass migration will create rifts and costs heavily for resettlement&nbsp;at new places. According to ISRO atlas (2018- 2019 report), 29 percent of India’s land is degraded (97.85 million hectare of 328.72 million hectare of India’s geographic area) whereas, it was&nbsp;96.40 million hectare&nbsp;as per (2011-2013) report And the reason where the effect of desertification is largely seen in India are Rajasthan Maharashtra Gujarat Karnataka Ladakh Jharkhand. India’s green cover is 80.9 million ha (24.6%) of&nbsp;Total geographical area which is far less than 33 percent as laid down in National Forest Policy. India hosted COP-14 in New Delhi in September 2019 ,&nbsp;wherein India stand committed&nbsp;towards land degradation and restoration of 26 million ha of degraded land by 2030 with&nbsp;focus on sustainable and optimum utilization of land resources. In Paris agreement India’s intended nationally determined contribution is 33-35 percent reduction in energy intensity of its GDP by 2030 over 2005 level. Additional carbon dioxide sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes carbon dioxide by massive aforestation drive and sustainable mitigation strategy&nbsp;towards climate change impacts.land degradation leads to due to drought and desertification. 12 million ha of land is lost every year globally, meaning thereby a net loss of 20 million tonnes of grains.Currently land degradation has reduced productivity to the extent of 23 percent of global terrestrial area. 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic which are interlinked with ecosystem and transfer from animal to humanbeing, UNEP 2016. “Covid-19 is a way to humanity”, Inger Aderson UNEP.We are almost in the mid of United Nations SDG’s 2030 agenda with 17 goal and 169 targets-13 exclusively deals with the urgent action to combat climate change whereas goal -15 suggests for protection of terrestrial&nbsp;eco system, biodiversity, combat desertification and degradation.74% poor are directly effected by land degradation globally (UN 2015). Effective strategies and people participation and stand for commitments will certainly help in tackling the problem and ensuring food security, population security world over.

 To promote public awareness and global response,17th June is observed as World Day to combat Desertification and Drought .Land degradation in arid,semi-arid and dry sub humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities is defined as Desertification, UNCCD(2013).

Commitments To Combat Desertification & Drought

Addis Ababa:&nbsp;Drought conditions in various parts of Ethiopia have caused 9.88 million people to be food insecure, according to the UN World Food Program (WFP).In a drought response situation report, WFP said nearly 10 million people in Ethiopia have become food insecure because of four consecutive missed rainy seasons, reports Xinhua news agency.The UN agency said 3.3 million people have been provided with nutritional and cash assistance including 119,000 children living in drought-affected parts of Ethiopia. The WFP is also supporting families in Ethiopia with a combination of emergency relief, nutrition support as well as resilience-building actions to save lives in the short term and build resilience in the long term.WFP, however, said a severe funding shortage has forced it to cut food rations to 2.4 million people and only treat 17 per cent of the malnourished children and mothers across southern and south-eastern Ethiopia.The UN agency also disclosed it needs $277 million until the end of this year to effect immediate and scaled-up assistance to avoid a major humanitarian crisis and help millions of Ethiopians living in drought-affected parts of Ethiopia become resilient to extreme climate shocks.The funds are needed to meet the needs of vulnerable population groups in Ethiopia's Somali, Oromia and Southern regions. —IANS

Drought conditions in various parts of Ethiopia have caused 9.88 million people to be food insecure, according to the UN World Food Program (WFP).

 Drought conditions leave 9.88mn Ethiopians needing food aid: WFP

Paris:&nbsp;French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has activated an inter-ministerial crisis team, saying on Friday that her country was experiencing the worst drought ever recorded."The current exceptional drought is depriving many communities of water and is a tragedy for our farmers, our ecosystems and biodiversity," Borne wrote in a statement.The lack of rain is being aggravated by successive heat waves, Borne continued, which on the one hand increase evaporation, but also the demand for water, dpa news agency reported. The situation could continue over the next two weeks and even become more worrying, she added.In France, large parts of the mainland are now suffering from drought.Depending on the severity, different restrictions on water apply, including on irrigation.According to local media, some municipalities were temporarily without water supply.Borne called on the population to use water sparingly.—IANS

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has activated an inter-ministerial crisis team, saying on Friday that her country was experiencing the worst drought ever recorded.

 France experiencing worst drought ever: PM

Beijing: A severe drought since July 15 has affected more than 1.38 million people in China's Jiangxi province, local authorities said Tuesday.
Drought conditions triggered by sustained hot weather and low precipitation has impacted 83 counties in 11 cities of Jiangxi, Xinhua news agency reported citing the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters as saying.
It added that a total of 11,000 people had difficulties accessing drinking water, while approximately 141,100 hectares of crops had been damaged due to water shortage.
The provincial meteorological observatory issued a red alert for excessive heat at 7.35 a.m. Tuesday, forecasting that the temperature is expected to exceed 37 degrees Celsius in the next 24 hours.
China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Ministry of Emergency Management have formulated specific flood control and drought relief plans to prevent casualties.
China has earmarked 200 million yuan of disaster relief funds to support drought relief work .
—IANS

A severe drought since July 15 has affected more than 1.38 million people in China's Jiangxi province, local authorities said Tuesday.

 Drought affects over 1.38 mn in China's Jiangxi

Mogadishu: The number of drought-related displacements has increased to over 1.1 million in Somalia between January 2021 and August 2022, the United Nations humanitarian agency has said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday some 98,900 people were displaced by drought in August, an 18 per cent increase compared to the previous month, Xinhua news agency reported. The UN agency said the new arrivals have been observed in the Bay region (29 per cent) and Banadir region (28 per cent), followed by the Bari region (12 per cent) and Gedo region (10 per cent). "The significant flow of arrivals in Bay is a continued displacement trend that was initially observed in July 2022, when Bay Region received 40 per cent of new arrivals, compared to only 2 per cent in June 2022," OCHA said in its drought displacement monitoring report released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The latest figures come as humanitarian partners have quickly expanded drought response activities, reaching 5.3 million affected people with assistance and protection by August, up from 3.4 million in June. According to OCHA, the aid agencies have prioritised areas of highest need, bolstering coordination in 38 districts and delivering emergency response packages to those most in need among newly displaced people. OCHA has warned that needs are expected to increase in the months ahead, including with the forecast for a fifth failed rain, and the crisis expected to extend into 2023. The UN projects that famine will be a reality in parts of the country during October-December unless life-saving assistance is urgently ramped up to reach the people most in need.&nbsp;
—IANS

The number of drought-related displacements has increased to over 1.1 million in Somalia between January 2021 and August 2022, the United Nations humanitarian agency has said.

 Severe drought displaces over 1.1 mn Somalis: UN

Nairobi (The Hawk): At least 1,235 wild animals have perished between February and October of this year as a result of the severe drought that has impacted large areas of Kenya's arid and semi-arid terrain, a government official reported.
The prolonged dry season has impacted 14 different types of wildlife, according to a statement made on Friday by Peninah Malonza, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, Wildlife, and Heritage, according to Xinhua news agency.
Malonza stated that "the mortalities have arisen due to the loss of food resources as well as water shortages."
Depressed rainfall in the country's arid and semi-arid regions during the October-December 2021 and March-May 2022 rainy seasons, according to her, have made the situation worse.
Malonza said that southern, eastern, and northern Kenya are all experiencing the severe drought that has killed primarily herbivore species.
She said that in order to lessen conflicts between people and animals, the government has been supplying hay to threatened species like the Grevy's zebra and hippo, trucking water to wildlife in protected areas, and mobilising resources for drought relief.
Malonza encouraged wildlife partners to expand hay supplies to Gravy's zebra in northern Kenya, assist an early undertaking of a comprehensive aerial census of wildlife, and supplement the provision of water and salt licks to animals in the most affected areas.
(Inputs from Agencies)

At least 1,235 wild animals have perished between February and October of this year as a result of the severe drought that has impacted large areas of Kenya's arid and semi-arid terrain, a government official reported.

1,235 wild animals in Kenya killed by drought

Ranchi: Officials have warned that a 45 percent rain deficit has caused about 85 percent of the fertile land in Jharkhand to stay fallow during the peak monsoon season, bringing the state closer to a drought-like situation.
As of July 21st, only 4.15 million acres (14.71% of arable land) had been planted with Kharif crops, well below the objective of 28.27 million acres. As of the same date in 2022, official data showed that roughly 20.40 percent of the arable land was under cultivation.—Inputs from Agencies

Officials have warned that a 45 percent rain deficit has caused about 85 percent of the fertile land in Jharkhand to stay fallow during the peak monsoon season, bringing the state closer to a drought-like situation.

Low rainfall pushes Jharkhand towards drought: Officials

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday shot off a letter to the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat, stating it is not possible to release the Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu pushing farmers, people and livestock of his state into crisis.
Siddaramaiah underlined, “It is not possible to implement the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order by pushing the farmers, livestock and people who depend on Cauvery water for drinking purposes into crisis.”
It is not possible to release 5,000 cusecs of water for 15 days from the KRS and Kabini dams through Biligundlu as per the committee’s decision, he said.
He had also requested the Union Minister Shekawat to protect the interest of the people of the state and the livestock.
Karnataka had complied with the earlier order of the committee, and presently majority of taluks are facing drought due to the failure of Monsoon rains, he said.
“From June to mid-September, Tamil Nadu had utilised 100 tmc of water. The utilisation is more than 1987-88, 2002-03, 2012-13, 2016-17 and 2017-18 in the drought period. Though water levels in Karnataka dams are lowest, the crop cultivation is taken up in Tamil Nadu on a large scale,” Siddaramaiah said.
As per the prediction of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there are no chances of rain between September 12 and 24.
On September 12, in Tamil Nadu’s Mettur dam, the water storage level was 24.233 tmc. If the released water is taken into the account, there is enough water available to fulfil the needs of Tamil Nadu, Siddaramaiah said.
There is a requirement of 70 tmc of water for standing crops, 33 tmc of water for drinking water and 3 tmc of water for industries. “Our storage is only 53 tmc and it is not sufficient to fulfil the requirements,” Siddaramaiah said.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday decided to file another petition before the CWRC to underline the state’s current situation leading to its inability to release water to Tamil Nadu.
Siddaramaiah said a decision in this regard was taken during an all-party meeting held here on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said, “The petition will also be submitted to the Supreme Court and the existing situation will be explained. And regarding the release of 5,000 cusecs of water and filing of a petition before the Supreme Court, Deputy CM D. K. Shivakumar would go to Delhi and discuss the matter with the legal team.”
The Chief Minister further said a letter would also be written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an appointment for the all-party delegation from the state on the issue.
—IANS

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday shot off a letter to the Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat

Not possible to release Cauvery water to TN: K'taka CM to Union Jal Shakti Min

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday declared 161 taluks of the state as severely drought-hit. It also announced that 34 taluks were facing moderate drought.
During the 2023 Monsoon, among the 31 districts and 236 taluks of the state, 195 taluks are facing drought situations, a government statement said.
As many as 161 taluks are regarded as severely affected by drought and 34 are moderately hit by drought with immediate effect for the next 6 months or till the next order in this regard, it added.
The state government had taken the decision based on the report by the district commissioners done as per the guidelines of drought declaration guidelines of the central government.
There is a delay of one week between the arrival and spread of Mansoon. In June, the Monsoon weakened and there was 56 per cent of shortage of rains than usual. In July, the state received 20 per cent additional Monsoon rains, however, this lasted for only one week.
In August, the shortage of rainfall reached 70 per cent — the lowest in the last 125 years.
Earlier, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Committee’s (KSNDMC) report for the period between June 1, 2023 to August 19, 2023 the state received 487 mm of rainfall. When the evaluation was done as per the criterion the drought situation was found in 113 taluks. Later, the officers had taken up crop loss study of 1,519 villages of 113 taluks.
Karnataka Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda on Wednesday said that 195 of 227 taluks in the state are facing a drought-like situation.
“There is a shortage of more than 40 per cent of rainfall in the Malnad (hilly) region. There is a shortage of rain in the Cauvery catchment area and a similar situation exists in the interior regions of the state,” he said.
A crop survey would be conducted in 40 taluks after 15 days. If they fall into the category of drought-prone areas, they would also be included in the list, he stated.
—IANS

The Karnataka government on Thursday declared 161 taluks of the state as severely drought-hit. It also announced

K’taka: 161 taluks declared severely drought-hit

Bengaluru: An important meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday in Delhi to discuss the Cauvery water sharing row, projects in Karnataka which are waiting for the Union government’s approval, and drought relief matters for the southern state.
Union ministers, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs hailing from the state will participate in this crucial meeting. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar will also to attend the meeting.
T.B. Jayachandra, Special Representative of the Karnataka government in Delhi, has been engaging in preliminary meetings which are being held at the Karnataka Bhavan.
The meeting on Wednesday, to be chaired by Siddaramaiah, has been convened as the Prime Minister and all the union Uinisters will be present in the national capital given the ongoing special session of the Parliament.
—IANS

An important meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday in Delhi to discuss the Cauvery water sharing row, projects in Karnataka

Cauvery water sharing row: Crucial meeting to be held in Delhi on Wed

Bengaluru: Minister for Social Welfare Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa said on Friday that the Congress government will hold a “simple and meaningful” Dasara, the state festival, this time in the backdrop of the severe drought situation existing in the state.
Making the announcement on social media, Minister Mahadevappa said that “due to the failure of rain the farmers in the state are in a crisis situation. In this backdrop, it has been decided to celebrate a meaningful Dasara festival.”
The festival, which attracts international and national tourists from all over to Mysuru city, is celebrated every year during the festival of Vijayadashami with all the grandeur and pompous style.
The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Sugarcane Cultivators Association and other organisations have demanded a low-key affair celebration on Dasara.
Minister Mahadevappa is the district in-charge minister for Mysuru district and Dasara Executive Committee President. The 10-day Dasara festival will be celebrated in the month of October.
The farmer community has been agitated over the decision of the Supreme Court to release water to Tamil Nadu and if the stay is not issued, they fear that the standing crops in Mysuru, Mandya districts will get destroyed.
The people of the region were expecting that Dasara would be celebrated with all the grandeur as the festival was not celebrated with pomp and show in the past three years.
Sources stated that the decision would be taken on the list of programmes to be organised as part of Dasara festivities. Mahadevappa had earlier sought Rs 30 crore grant for the celebration of the festival. Since CM Siddaramaiah also hails from Mysuru, all preparations were being done for a grand Dasara, however the failure of rain has played spoilsports. The state government had selected famous music director and activist Hamsalekha to inaugurate the Dasara festival and the decision ran into a controversy.
The Karnataka government had declared that 161 taluks are severely hit by drought in the state. The state had also announced 34 taluks have moderate drought.
The order stated that during the 2023 Monsoon among the 31 districts and 236 taluks of the state, 195 taluks are facing the drought situation. 161 taluks are regarded as severely affected by drought and 34 are moderately hit by drought. The state government has taken the decision based on the report by the district commissioners done as per the guidelines of drought declaration guidelines of the central government.
—IANS

Minister for Social Welfare Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa said on Friday that the Congress government will hold a “simple and meaningful”

K’taka to scale down Mysuru Dasara in view of drought situation

Bengaluru: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in north Karnataka region on Saturday and Sunday.
A yellow alert has been issued for Bidar, Vijayapura and Kalaburagi districts which are reeling under severe drought.
Heavy rains are predicted in coastal districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. The districts of Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Koppal, Raichur, Yadgir, Bellary, considered as parched lands, are also likely to receive heavy rains on Saturday.
Central Karnataka district of Chitradurga, south Karnataka districts of Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Chikkaballapura, Kodagu, Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru, Ramanagara, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Tumkur are also expected to receive rainfall.
Rains would also lash Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural districts. The capital Bengaluru city resembled a hill station since morning. IT city is witnessing rains for two days and heavy rains caused damage in low lying areas.
—IANS

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rainfall in north Karnataka region on Saturday and Sunday.

Heavy rains likely in north, coastal K’taka, yellow alert in 3 dists

Mandya (Karnataka): Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers staged protests on Monday in Karnataka's Mandya against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Karnataka state government for the release of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu.  Former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka BJP vice president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra joined the protests at Mandya.
The protests by the BJP leaders and workers were organized at the BJP office as well as near the Deputy Commissioner's office of Mandya and the protestors were seen wearing 'shorts' during the protests.  The protests were organized against CWMA, CWRC, and the Karnataka state government, as CWMA had directed the Karnataka government to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. Though the Karnataka government had moved to the Supreme Court (SC) against the directions of CWMA, the Karnataka government had to comply with the directions after the court refused to interfere with orders of CWMA. Notably, the court also declined to entertain an application filed by the Tamil Nadu government to increase its current share of Cauvery water from 5,000 to 7,200 cusecs per day. Amid the ongoing protests in the state, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier in the day accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) of ‘playing politics’ on the Cauvery issue. "In a democracy, there is an opportunity to protest. We are not going to disrupt the protest. But the BJP-JDS party is playing politics in this. There is a hearing before the Supreme Court tomorrow regarding the Cauvery issue," said Siddaramaiah.
Speaking on the opposition demanding his resignation over the issue, CM Siddaramaiah said, “When we called an all-party meeting on the Cauvery river water sharing issue, has anyone said that I should resign from the post of CM? No one said that I should resign from the post of CM in the all-party meeting.” Both Karnataka and TN have been witness to protests after Karnataka hardened its stance on sharing Cauvery water citing severe drought in parts of the state. Earlier during the day, The National South Indian River Interlinking Farmers Association under the leadership of Ayyakannu held a protest in TN's Trichy by holding parts of the human skeleton and demanded the sharing of Cauvery water. Speaking on the protests Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan hoped that Karnataka would hold on to its promise to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the directions of the CWMA.  "I don't want to comment on what's happening in other states...as per Supreme court order to release water from Cauvery, the water is now coming to Tamil Nadu and now its the Government of Tamil Nadu's duty to maintain the situation. Obeying the order or not is the question of political ethics" he said.  "We hope that with the released Cauvery water from Karnataka, we can save the Kuruvai cultivation" he added. Meanwhile, Bengaluru based pro-Kannada organizations have given a call for a ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ on 26 September. The call comes after Mandya city observed a total bandh on Saturday, protesting against the Supreme Court order.
—ANI

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers staged protests on Monday in Karnataka's Mandya against the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)

Karnataka: BJP leaders, workers stage protests in Mandya on release of Cauvery water to TN

Mysuru: It’s most unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) are politicising the Cauvery issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Tuesday, adding that the protest is neither in the interest of the state nor the people.  Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that calling for bandh is allowed in a democracy. But, the court had directed against protests or meetings. “When we exercise our fundamental rights, the rights of others should also be kept in mind. The court had given an order that people should not be troubled,â€ he said.  Against that backdrop, the government had clamped the prohibitory orders under the IPC Section 144, he added. Asked about BJP’s protest by wearing only shorts in Mandya district, CM Siddaramaiah said, “The BJP activists were called as “Chaddis” (mocking the RSS outfit of khaki shorts) by us. Let them carry out the protest. They should not indulge in politics. The issue should not be politicised for political gains. This is not in the interest of the state.” Instead of staging a protest with shorts, the BJP leaders should be told that they have 25 MPs and should pressure the BJP government and PM Modi, he stated. Reacting to the charge that the Congress government is acting as a B-team of the DMK government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the DMK government is ruling Tamil Nadu state. If the allegation is made on these lines, what should the alliance between the BJP and AIADMK, earlier, be described as? The statements should not be issued for the sake of politics. Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda had written a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Cauvery dispute. “It is a welcome step. But, his statement alleging failure of the state government is politics. The state government has always protected the interests of the people and land,” he said. “The power is not important to us. For us the interest of people is more important. We believe in this,” he stated. On the Karnataka bandh call given on Friday, CM Siddaramaiah stated that the Supreme Court had given the directive not to stage bandh or protest. “We will not obstruct the protest,” he said. “So far, there is no distress formula. We have been praying for the distress formula before the Supreme Court and tribunals. When rains fail, the distress will set in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. During those years, the distress should be shared. While sharing the distress, there must be a formula, he maintained. Another solution is, if there is a Mekedatu reservoir, which will have a capacity of 67 tmc of water, the water stored here, could be given to Tamil Nadu in distress situations like this. It tends to be in both the states. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will be benefitted from this,” Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained. Regarding the drought situation in the state, the Minister for Revenue Krishna Byregowda will be sent to New Delhi. He will meet the Union Home Minister, Union Agriculture Minister. When he meets them, more details will be known, CM Siddaramaiah stated. CM Siddaramaiah stated that there is no response to the letters written by him to PM Modi on sending a central team to assess the situation here. “We have to see whether the new found friendship between BJP and former PM Deve Gowda is going to help,” he taunted. 177.25 tmc of water has to be released in a normal year. For distress periods there is no formula. During distress period, out of the court settlement will be good,” he opined.
—IANS

It’s most unfortunate that BJP and JD(S) are politicising the Cauvery issue, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said here on Tuesday

B'luru bandh not in interest of state, says K'taka CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru (Karnataka): Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday slammed the Siddaramaiah government and said that the state government seemed to be getting wisdom after committing a bundle of mistakes over the Cauvery water issue and now it was talking to farmers and legal experts. He said that talking to legal experts should have been done long ago.
Talking to reporters here, he said, "There was no coordination between the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. However, the lack of coordination between the Home Minister and top brass of the department had been established. The state has now initiated a legal battle. The work of talking to legal experts should have been done long ago. At least now, the government must honestly fight the case and see to it that no anti-State orders were issued in the coming days." The former CM said the government must have held talks with legal luminaries and farmers. "It should have consulted a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Shivraj Patil in regard to land, water and borders of Karnataka. There are other legal experts with whom the government should have held talks," he said.  Former CM Bommai said that it was a tragedy to have such a government when the state was reeling from drought. "Several districts in the North Karnataka region are reeling under drought. However, the state government was pointing its fingers towards the Union Government to pay compensation to the affected farmers. When unprecedented floods ravaged the North Karnataka region last time, the then BJP Government distributed relief. The current government was acting on the contrary," he said. Responding to a question about a person wielding the sword participating in the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession in Kolar, Bommai said, "Such things happen depending upon which party is in power. Now there is no fear in the minds of goons and troublemakers, and they are free to roam like this," he added. Hours after Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to its neighbouring Tamil Nadu every day until October 15, state Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting with retired judges of the Supreme Court and others on September 29. In the meeting with the retired judges of the top court, irrigation experts, and former Advocate Generals over the Cauvery River water-sharing issue, state Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was also present. —ANI

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday slammed the Siddaramaiah government and said that the state government seemed

"Talking to legal experts should have been done long ago": Former Karnataka CM Bommai on Cauvery water row

Brasilia [Brazil]: Over 100 dolphins have been found dead in the Brazilian Amazon over the past seven days due to historic drought and increasing water temperatures, noting 102 degrees Fahrenheit, reported CNN. According to the Mamiraua Institute, a research facility funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Science, these dolphins were found in Lake Tefe.
The institute suggested record-high lake temperature and the historic drought in the Aamazon may have been the cause of the death, noting that such a high number of deaths was unusual. The world's largest waterway, Amazon River, is currently in its dry season and several specimens of river fauna are also dealing with record-high temperatures. The deaths will probably add to the concerns of climate scientists over the effects human activity and extreme droughts are having on the region, CNN reported.
The institute said, "It’s still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but according to our experts, it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefé, in which some points are exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit)." However, researchers and scientists are trying to rescue the surviving dolphins by shifting them from lagoons and ponds in the outskirts to the main body of the river where the water is comparatively cooler, according to CNN Brasil. Adding to this, CNN reported, the operation is not easy due to the remoteness of the area. Andre Coelho, a researcher at the Mamiraua Institute, told CNN Brasil, “Transferring river dolphins to other rivers is not that safe because it’s important to verify if toxins or viruses are present (before releasing the animals into the wild)." Moreover, as many as 59 municipalities have reported below average levels of water in Amazonas State, hindering both transport and fishing activities on the river, reported CNN. Authorities are further expecting even more acute droughts over the next couple of weeks, which could lead to more deaths of dolphins. Furthermore, the deadly drought in the Amazon is river is further impacting the economy.
—ANI

Over 100 dolphins have been found dead in the Brazilian Amazon over the past seven days due to historic drought and increasing water temperatures

Over 100 dolphins dead in Amazon as it hits record-high temperature

New Delhi [India]: Amid the Congress' crowdfunding campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Partyon Friday launched an attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state minister Zameer Ahmed Khan saying that at a time when their party is asking for donations, the two leaders are travelling in a 'private jet'. BJP leader Amit Malviya slammed the Karnataka Congress saying that the duo had 'happy moments' in a private jet while they were travelling to Delhi to seek drought funds' release from the Centre.
Posting a video of Karnataka minister Zameer Ahmed with the state Chief Minister on the social media platform, X, Malviya wrote, "On the one hand, Congress is pretending to crowdfund and didn't even serve samosas in I.N.D.I Alliance meeting, on the other, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Cabinet Minister for Housing, Waqf and Minority Affairs in Karnataka Govt, is flaunting his pictures with CM Siddaramaiah in a private jet. They apparently had 'happy moments' traveling together to Delhi, to seek funds for drought relief. Irony died a million times." "Karnataka is reeling under mis-governance but Congress's loot must continue," Malviya added. The video was orginally posted by the Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmad Khan himself. The video showed the Luxury private jet with the minister and the Chief Minister which was posted with the caption " Happy moments of traveling from Delhi to Bangalore with our proud leader, Chief Minister Siddaramiah"
<a href="https://twitter.com/BZZameerAhmedK/status/1737727391450173574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1737727391450173574%7Ctwgr%5Ecbbcab8461d386c1fb1036a17e58617f7f53d12d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aninews.in%2Fnews%2Fnational%2Fpolitics%2Fbjp-tears-into-congress-for-using-luxury-jet-to-fly-karnataka-cm-siddarmaiah-to-delhi-to-seek-drought-aid20231222111015" target="_self">https://twitter.com/BZZameerAhmedK/status/1737727391450173574?</a>
Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi, sharing the same video, said that the state government does not have funds to pay our farmers affected by drought but it has all the funds to fly the chief minister. "Karnataka government does not have funds to pay our Farmers affected by drought. Neither does it have funds for development or to fulfill its guarantees. But it has all the funds to fly the chief minister, his political secretary and housing minister in luxurious private jet. And that too to seek funds for drought relief from the central government And CM Siddaramaiah boasts that he is a 'Samaajavaadi'. But Kannadigas can only see a 'Majaavaadi' here !" the BJP leader wrote.  Meanwhile, the Congress which is completing 138 years of its foundation on December 28, recently launched the crowdfunding campaign 'Donate for Desh' ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The campaign aims at "empowering the party to create an India rich in equal resource distribution and opportunities". Speaking about the campaign, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that this is the first time that the grand old party is asking people for donations and cited Mahatma Gandhi, who also took donations from the public during the freedom struggle. "It's the first time that Congress is asking people for donations for the nation... If you work only by depending on the rich people, then you have to follow their policies. Mahatma Gandhi also took donations from the public during the freedom struggle," said Kharge.
—ANI

Amid the Congress' crowdfunding campaign, the Bharatiya Janata Partyon Friday launched an attack on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

BJP tears into Congress for using luxury jet to fly Karnataka CM Siddarmaiah to Delhi to seek drought aid

Bengaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that he would lead a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on February 7 against the 'injustice' done to the state by the Union government in the interim budget for 2024-25. "It's not a political protest; it is a protest against stepmotherhood treatment of the central government, even when drought hit the state. That's why we have organised this protest on February 7 at 11 am at Jantar Mantar," said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
"We don't say don't give to north Indian states; we are asking what we deserve, what we need, and what needs to be given to us. Finance Commission recommendations must be followed. BJP leaders and BS Yediyurappa, Basavaraja Bommai, or any others must speak on it. We have MPs and ministers from the state, including Pralhad Joshi. But no one spoke in parliament. Are these not injustices to the state? What should people do? We have not been given funds, which must have been allotted and given to us. I'm also asking BJP MPs from the state to come to protest," the Karnataka Chief Minister added. Further, the CM accused the BJP-led central government of ignoring the state's plight amid the drought situation. "Karnataka has been treated unfairly in the Union Budget. Therefore, we have decided to protest in Delhi on February 7. Not a single penny has been given to the state for drought management," Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said.
 The Karnataka CM also accused Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of failing to allocate any funds for drought management in Karnataka. "The country should be united... The BJP does not talk about drought, inflation or unemployment... Nirmala Sitharaman has done injustice as Finance Minister," CM Siddaramaiah said. The government presented the interim budget for 2024-25 in Parliament on Thursday with a focus on economic policies that foster growth, facilitate inclusive development, improve productivity, and create opportunities for various sections, while also noting that it will pay utmost attention to the eastern region, including the states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal, to make them growth engines as part of a goal to make India a developed country by 2047. No change was proposed in the tax rates in the interim budget, with Finance Minister Sitharaman announcing that the government will form a high-powered committee for an extensive consideration of the challenges arising from the fast population and that it will present a white paper on the economic performance of 10 years of BJP-led government compared to the previous 10 years of Congress-led UPA government. This was the last budget of the PM Modi government in its second term, with Lok Sabha polls expected in April-May this year. Sitharaman, who presented her sixth budget in the Lok Sabha, expressed confidence in the BJP-led NDA coming to power again. "In the full budget in July, our government will present a detailed roadmap for our pursuit of 'Viksit Bharat'," Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
—ANI

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah protests in Delhi against budget injustice, accuses BJP of neglecting drought-hit state. No funds allocated.

"This protest is against step motherhood treatment": Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah over Centre's fund distribution

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday accused the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of not releasing funds for the Upper Bhadra Project in Karnataka despite "announcing Rs 5,300 crores" for it. "I know that Nirmala Sitharaman is a very intelligent leader and a Minister. But she represents Karnataka. As far as irrigation is concerned in Karnataka, for the Upper Bhadra Project, the Finance Minister had announced that she is going to give Rs 5,300 crores for the Bhadra project. Was it not her announcement?" Shivakumar told reporters.
Questioning the Finance Minister for not releasing funds though she had earlier announced, Shivakumar said, "Without having the policy I think no Minister will announce without any recommendation. She had announced it in her budget before the elections. Have they released it?" The Deputy Chief Minister said that Sitharaman has all the power to rectify whatever injustice has been done. "Even on the Finance Commission issue, whatever discrepancy is there, they have the entire power to rectify it, and give justice to whatever injustice has been done," he said. Taking a dig at Sitharaman, Shivakumar said the Union Finance Minister should have gifted a GIFT City for Karnataka just like she did for Gujarat. "For example in Gujarat, I think they have announced GIFT City. Let her gift Karnataka also. She is from Karnataka. Let ger give one GIFT City to Karnataka," he said.  Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar lambasted the State BJP leaders for constantly criticising the Congress government on drought relief and alleged that they were not doing anything to seek drought relief from the Centre. Speaking to reporters at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, "The state BJP leaders haven't made any efforts to hold a meeting with the BJP government in the Centre to seek drought relief funds for the state, which is reeling under severe drought. Instead, they are busy criticising the state government."   —ANI

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar alleges Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's delay in releasing Rs 5,300 crores for Karnataka's Upper Bhadra Project.

Union Finance Minister not releasing funds for Upper Bhadra Project in Karnataka: Shivakumar

To preserve this white gift of nature) Last year, when winters were going on in most parts of Europe without snow, it seemed that the developed countries, which have created the problem of climate change through uncontrolled carbon emissions and excessive use of fossil fuels, were seeing the consequences of their deeds. When there was no snow, many tourist places in Europe became deserted, glaciers started melting and the water level in the rivers started decreasing. But, we did not realize that something like this would happen within a year.Will be seen in our country also. From December to half of January, the situation became such that whether Kashmir, Himachal or Uttarakhand, the hilly areas of all these states remained almost dry in terms of snowfall. During this period, neither the western disturbances causing rain and snowfall became active nor did the local weather changes create such a stir anywhere that the faces of tourists, farmers and businessmen blossomed with happiness. Farmers, meteorologists and economists are scared of this silence of snow. hope for tourismThe pain of sustainable businessmen is different. Meteorologists' assessment says that from December to January, usually one and a half to two feet snow falls several times in areas like Gulmarg in Kashmir, Shimla-Manali in Himachal and Joshimath Auli in Uttarakhand. But, despite the harsh winter, most of these places received about 80 percent less rainfall this time, barring a few exceptions. Gulmarg in Kashmir, which is usually blessed with snowfall of several feet every year, was almost dry this time last December with six inches of snow falling.Only this remained. Snowfall is also very important for farming. The glow on the faces of apple growers of Kashmir and Himachal increases with snowfall, but due to no snowfall this time, lines of worry are clearly visible on their foreheads. The common people and farmers of the hill states know what warning is hidden for them in the snow drought. Lack of snowfall has a negative impact on many sectors including tourism, agriculture, horticulture and hydroelectric power generation. Due to global warming, already depleted glaciers become even more empty during ice drought. UsIn L, the glacier gets a chance to recharge (recharge) the damage caused by snowfall every year. Due to their reserves, these glaciers provide water to rivers and springs throughout the year, but if they suffer from lack of snow even for a year, their reserves of stored water can become empty rapidly. Lack of snowfall in areas like Ladakh Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir means that this area of ​​the Himalayas is in the grip of drought. Due to this, the rivers originating from here do not provide sufficient water to the plains during summer.Will be able to take. However, the Himalayan regions are already facing the effects of global warming. Geologists say that in the nineties, in most of these Himalayan areas there was snowfall of more than three feet at times from December to January. But now it seems that even these areas with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions have become vulnerable to the problems arising from global climate change. There is a claim that due to lack of snow and rain and global warming, the temperature of Kashmir-Ladakh will increase by four to seven degrees.There may be an increase in Celsius, which can cause large-scale damage to agriculture, horticulture and the entire ecology here. In the last few years, farmers of Kashmir and Ladakh have converted their paddy fields into flower gardens in view of the recurring water shortage crisis, which is a sign of change in the ecology here. For the hilly states, snow also has an aspect of tourism. Due to lack of snowfall, the roads of Mussoorie, Nainital of Uttarakhand have not been buzzing with tourists, while the roads of KashmirEven in areas like Gulmarg-Pahalgam, far fewer tourists are arriving than expected. Not only this, due to non-availability of necessary snow for sports like snow skiing, which is popular as an adventure tourism, the events related to it are also in danger. The low influx of tourists has become a cause of concern for hoteliers, taxi drivers, horse and mule owners and other businessmen. However, the signs of depletion and depletion of snow that have been seen at the local level in India have been felt with great intensity in the world at large for some time now.The biggest concern is the rate of melting of ice at both the poles of the Earth. For example, one issue is that of Greenland falling in the Arctic region. Although there is ice here throughout the year, studies have shown that for the first time in the last one thousand years, Greenland has now reached the point of becoming the hottest. One of its effects has already been felt in the year 2019, when it was claimed on the basis of facts that there is a significant rise in sea level due to melting of ice in the Arctic.happened. What is more worrying here is that the layers of Petermann, Greenland's most important glacier, are breaking apart rapidly due to the heat. The result of this may be that the water level of the oceans all over the world will increase due to this. This will also increase the danger to low-lying islands and coastal areas. Like the North Pole, the South Pole i.e. Antarctica has six times more ice than the Arctic. But, in the year 2023 this snow was at its lowest level ever. That is why it is important to save this white gift of nature.Efforts should be made to keep A, which perhaps can be realized to some extent by efforts to stop global warming.  
—Vijay Garg Retired Principal Educational Columnist Malout

Explore the repercussions of snow drought on Himalayan regions, from tourism to agriculture. The silent crisis of climate change unfolds with global consequences.

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