The Krishna River, a lifeline for southern India, is facing a severe drought, causing widespread agricultural losses, drinking water shortages, and escalating inter-state disputes over water sharing.

Key Points

• Rising temperatures have dried up the Krishna River earlier than usual, devastating crops in regions like Bagalkot, Vijayapura, and Yadgir.
• Farmers are now reliant on government water tankers, which are arriving only once every 15 days.
• Karnataka has officially requested Maharashtra to release water from the Koyna and Varna reservoirs.
• Water-sharing tensions have intensified between Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
• Reservoirs in the Krishna Valley are less than half full, forcing authorities to prioritize drinking water supply.
• Climate change is expected to worsen drought frequency and intensity in the Krishna basin, threatening long-term water security.