‘Rain Has Changed Its Course’: Satish Jarkiholi on Karnataka’s Monsoon Turnaround, Cloud Seeding, and RSS Meet

Belagavi: In a major relief to the state, Belagavi District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi stated that the looming threat of a severe drought and drinking water crisis in Karnataka has been averted, thanks to a dramatic turnaround in monsoon activity over the last few days. Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, the minister touched upon several key issues, including river inflows, the success of cloud seeding in Haveri, cabinet expansion, and the ongoing RSS meeting in the district.

Monsoon Reversal Brings Relief to Karnataka

Minister Jarkiholi highlighted that the state was previously staring at a massive water scarcity crisis. However, the weather pattern has shifted significantly over the past two to three days, bringing widespread joy across Karnataka.

• Inflow into Dams: Water levels in major reservoirs are rising, though the minister noted that much more inflow is required to reach maximum capacity.
• River Inflows: Rivers like the Krishna, Malaprabha, and Hiranyakeshi are receiving immense amounts of water.
• Canal Water Release: To ensure the water reaches agricultural fields, Jarkiholi personally visited the Dhupadal Dam. Water has successfully flown up to the Bagalkot region, bringing immense happiness to the local farming community. Addressing the annual flooding of connecting bridges in the Chikkodi region, the minister downplayed fears, stating, “Bridges getting submerged happens every year; it is nothing new.” He assured that the police have already placed barricades as a precautionary measure, the forest department is on high alert, and heavy rains are expected to continue for another four to five days.

Push for State-Wide Cloud Seeding

Reflecting on the dry spells in certain regions, Jarkiholi spoke about the cloud seeding experiment conducted in the Haveri district.

“We initiated cloud seeding in Haveri, and locals are reporting increased rainfall because of it. Looking at its success, we will urge the Chief Minister to implement cloud seeding across the state in the coming days,” Jarkiholi said.

Cabinet Expansion: “Expectations are High”

When questioned about the long-awaited expansion of the state cabinet, the minister maintained an optimistic but patient stance. “We have already stated that the cabinet expansion needs to happen as early as possible. There is an expectation that it will happen soon. Let’s wait and see,” he remarked.

On RSS Baithak and Priyanka Kharge’s Remarks

Belagavi is currently hosting an RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) meeting, a move that has sparked political curiosity. Jarkiholi cleared the air by stating that the state government has extended full cooperation for the event.

• Government Support: “Let them hold their program. The district administration and the police have made all necessary arrangements required by them from the state government. How they conduct their meeting is entirely up to them,” he said.
• Political Agenda? When asked if the RSS meeting carries a hidden political agenda, Jarkiholi quipped, “They always maintain that they are away from politics, and we have heard the same.” The minister was also asked about speculation that the RSS chose Karnataka for its meet to counter Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s aggressive stance against the organization. Jarkiholi distanced himself from the debate, saying he was unaware of any such strategy and that it was a matter concerning Priyank Kharge. Regarding Kharge’s statement that police permission is mandatory for the RSS route march (Pathasanchalana), Jarkiholi concluded, “That falls under Priyank Kharge’s domain regarding rules and permissions. Ultimately, we have a Home Minister, and he will handle it.”