Bagalkot: An inter-ministerial central drought study team visited villages in Bagalkot district and reviewed crop losses, drinking water scarcity and other drought-related issues.
“We have borrowed Rs 40,000-50,000 per acre to grow crops. Govt should provide compensation of Rs 1 lakh per acre,” farmers demanded. Sangappa said deficient rainfall had affected 2,50,280 hectares of agricultural land, causing an estimated loss of Rs 342.1 crore. Horticultural crops on 56,386 hectares suffered losses estimated at Rs 78.5 crore, taking the total agricultural and horticultural losses to Rs 420.6 crore. He said Rs 9.3 crore was required for drinking water arrangements and Rs 8.9 crore for setting up fodder banks and cattle shelters.
Farmers said the extent of damage could be understood only by examining the roots, which had weakened due to water scarcity. Stay updated with the latest Hubballi news. The team, led by Mansingh, director of the Directorate of Rice Development, Patna, included Partha Pal, under secretary in the department of expenditure, and Rakesh Kumar , under secretary in the rural development department. At Bhagavati, the team faced farmers’ ire after it inspected only the green leaves of onion crops. They urged the team to visit interior villages to understand the ground reality. Now, we have no money left. Before beginning the tour, the team held a meeting with Bagalkot DC Sangappa, ZP CEO Gajanan Bale and other officials and sought details on rainfall, crop losses and drinking water. It later visited Haladur, Shirur, Bevur, Bhagavati and Nandanur. District minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar, who accompanied the team, explained the drought situation. Download the TOI App.