Natural Resources
Natural Resources
Natural resources of a region include water, land, mineral, air, soil, energy, biodiversity, ecosystems etc. The state of Karnataka is well endowed with many of these resources.
Water Resources:
The most significant amongst bio-resources is the water. Karnataka accounts for about 6 % of the country's surface water resources of 17 lakh million cubic meters (Mcum). About 40 % of this is available in the east flowing rivers and the remaining from west flowing rivers. There are seven river basins with which their tributaries feed the State. The river basins of the state are: Krishna, Cauvery, Godavari, West flowing rivers, North Pennar, South Pennar, and Palar. The rivers Cauvery and Krishna together yield 93 per cent of required water for the state.
Karnataka receives 73 percent of its rainfall from south west monsoon from June to September that decides the agriculture sector status in the state. The monsoons continue to be erratic and deficient causing severe drought in more than 20 districts of the state for the last several years. Karnataka is the second most drought prone region of India after Rajasthan.
Land Resources: