Drought data check under way in Karnataka
Bengaluru: With 217 of Karnataka ’s 240 taluks declared drought-hit, chief minister DK Shivakumar Saturday sought Rs 7,142 crore from the Centre, saying farmers were facing crop losses, water shortage and severe distress. A special session was convened to understand the problems faced by people’s representatives and farmers, and 150 MLAs raised issues concerning their constituencies,” Shivakumar said, adding that reservoir inflows remained low except in the Krishna basin, while Malnad and coastal Karnataka were facing severe rainfall deficit. The state govt has announced Rs 2,500 in relief for farmers, but we are expecting greater assistance from the Centre,” he said. More than 31 lakh farming families in Karnataka are battling crop losses, prompting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to seek urgent central assistance. In an 11-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi , also shared with home minister Amit Shah, Kharge made six requests, including quick assessment and compensation for small and marginal farmers.
Therefore, the central govt must come forward to support the farmers of Karnataka,” he said.
Shivakumar said relief was needed to prevent further strain on the rural economy. “The state is facing one of its gravest drought situations in recent years, with a 58% rainfall deficiency as of Sept, widespread crop losses, and severe distress for lakhs of farming families,” he said. Shivakumar made the appeal at a meeting with the Centre’s inter-ministerial drought assessment team, headed by Ajit Kumar Sahu, joint secretary in the Union agriculture and farmers welfare ministry. The team is on a three-day visit to assess crop losses and verify the state govt’s estimates. Govt briefed the team on rainfall deficit, crop losses, drinking water shortage, and fodder availability. “If farmers are pushed into distress, the entire system comes to a standstill. Urban areas, too, were reporting water shortages. “Despite this, Cauvery Water Management Authority is directing the release of water into Cauvery river. Sharing the letter on X, the Rajya Sabha LoP sought Modi’s personal intervention.