Bengaluru, July 20 -- Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday said the state was facing an alarming rainfall deficit, with reservoir levels dropping sharply. He directed officials to treat drinking water security as the top priority while preparing for a possible drought declaration and seeking Central assistance. Chairing a special Cabinet meeting followed by a nearly four-hour review with deputy commissioners, zilla panchayat chief executive officers and senior officials from multiple departments, Shivakumar said rainfall was nearly 60 per cent below normal in large parts of the state and instructed the administration to intensify field-level drought management measures. "Karnataka is facing a massive rainfall deficit. Sowing is at 32%. Around 82% of the districts, except five to six districts, are facing deficient rainfall," he said. "Reservoirs are staring at dead storage, so the priority remains drinking water. Officers should go to the fields and take stock of the situation. Any anomaly or misdeeds will be dealt with seriously," the chief minister directed officials. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who also reviewed the drought situation with Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers, said the state had recorded a 68% rainfall deficit. "There is no drinking water. The number of villages being supplied water through tankers is increasing day by day. Drinking water should be given priority. Water from reservoirs should not be supplied for crops. There is a very serious situation and all officials should act effectively," Parameshwara said. Officials were directed to discourage cultivation of water intensive crops such as maize and sugarcane in drought affected regions. District task forces were asked to hold weekly review meetings and take decisions, including those related to borewell drilling....