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Droughts in India have sparked water-sharing protests in Bengaluru, while Brazil has established a task force to assist the severely water-scarce Amazon region.
Farmers in India’s southern state of Karnataka, grappling with drought, initiated a day-long strike on Friday to oppose the sharing of water from a river that flows into the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.
Police urged calm with all schools and public places staying shut, as thousands of farmers and trade union members prepared to hold rallies after protests began this week in the tech hub of Bengaluru, despite a court order to share the waters.
Over in Brazil, low river levels and hotter waters have killed masses of fish seen floating on river surfaces, contaminating the drinking water, Environment Minister Marina Silva said.
Some 111,000 people have been affected in a region where much of the population’s protein comes from fish, with fishing having been suspended for some time, she added. The civil defense agency warned that the drought could eventually impact up to 500,000 people in the Amazon.
Elsewhere in South America, prolonged drought and record-breaking winter heat in Bolivia has jeopardized water supplies, especially in high-altitude El Alto at 4,000 meters. Residents now face limited daily water access.
Over in Tanzania, climate-related water shortages and maintenance problems have led to a 400 MW electricity deficit in the East African nation, prompting widespread power rationing.
