Karnataka allocates Rs 895 crore for Drought Management Amidst Alarming Situation
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that 223 taluks have been declared drought-hit due to the alarming deficiency in monsoon rains
Belagavi: In response to the severe drought gripping the state, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told the assembly on Monday that Rs 895 crore has been allocated for drought management in the accounts of deputy commissioners and tahsildars.
The Minister said that 223 taluks have been declared drought-hit due to the alarming deficiency in monsoon rains.
During a debate on drought management, he revealed that despite a sowing target of 82.95 lakh hectares for the year, only 74 percent of the area has been cultivated. The drought has damaged 48 lakh hectares of crops, encompassing 46 lakh hectares of agriculture and 2 lakh hectares of horticulture.
Minister Gowda visited 22 districts to assess farmers' plight and the severity of the drought. He reported that 133 meetings at the district level, led by Deputy Commissioners, focused on drought management.
Recognizing the severity of the situation, the state government has submitted a memorandum to the Central government, seeking assistance amounting to Rs 18,171 crore. Despite the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee's study tour and submission of a report, relief has yet to be granted by the Centre.
Expressing urgency, the Revenue Minister urged the Centre to expedite assistance. Meanwhile, funds have been released to district and taluk administrations to address drinking water shortages in villages and cities.
Assessing the conditions over the past decade, the government has proactively identified 6,237 problematic villages and 914 wards in urban areas as potential drinking water problem areas that could face water problems by January- February next year.
He said that despite the lack of relief funds from the central government, the Karnataka state government has decided to release the first installment of Rs 2,000 as drought relief to farmers. To prevent misappropriation, the compensation will be directly credited to farmers' accounts, with the first payments scheduled for this week.