In a bid to deal with the dipping water level in almost all reservoirs across the State, the government on Wednesday decided to release Rs 176 crore for drought and flood-related works. Rs one crore has been earmarked for each of the 123 drought-affected taluks. Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda, as instructed by the party high command, held a meeting to review the prevailing drought situation. Surprisingly, his detractors Agriculture Minister Umesh Katti and Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai were present. Minor Irrigation Minister Govind Karjol too attended the meeting. Soon after the meeting, Gowda told reporters that water level has hit an all time low in all state reservoirs except at Hemavathi and Bhadra. While water level in the KRS dam has dipped to 74 ft against the maximum level of 124.80 ft, it is 1660.12 meters in Almatti dam against the maximum level of 1704.81 meters. Gowda said 84 per cent deficient rainfall was recorded in the State. Consequently, sowing activities have taken a hit. Sowing in khariff season has taken place in 10.88 lakh hectare. Last year, sowing was completed in 18.37 lakh hectare in the corresponding season. Gowda said supply of drinking water too was affected and the government will take a call on cloud seeding in a week's time. He said scientists at the Indian Institute of Tropical Metrology were consulted. If the State failed to receive rains in the next few days, a call would be taken on the matter, he said. Except for Kodagu, Udupi, Shimoga and Uttara Kannada, no other districts received good rains. Gowda has instructed the district task force committees to hold review meetings and submit their reports in a week. In addition to allocating funds to the affected taluks, it has been decided to release Rs 2 crore each to Uttara Kannada and Udupi and Rs 3 crore to Dakshina Kannada for flood-relief works. K Amaranarayana, Secretary, Revenue department, said this is the first time in the history of Karnataka that a taluk has been given Rs one crore to take up relief measures like providing drinking water and fodder. “This only reflects on the severity of the situation. The list of drought-hit villages is growing on a daily basis. Today 735 villages have got the drought tag. Bijapur, Bagalkot and Belgaum have received no rains while Bidar is fairly better. The Centre released Rs 282 crore on June 28. We will release the money in a day or two,” he said. The officers said Bangalore city is expected to receive heavy rain in July and August. The City will get Rs two crore to handle any problem it may face during the rainy months. “We want to park money with DCs so that they can immediately handle any natural disasters. Urban areas would be getting Rs 40 crore,” he said. He said the government has directed secretaries who are in-charge of the districts to review water supply and improve co-ordination between CEOs of zilla panchayats and DCs. Power supply companies too have been directed to ensure power supply to provide drinking water in rural areas. The officers have been told to emphasise on creating jobs under MGNREGS in rural areas, he said.