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.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.“Karnataka is facing a severe drought situation, and farmers and other people are facing great hardship. Provide Rs 7,142 crore in drought relief to the state as per National Disaster Response Force norms,” Shivakumar urged the team.Govt briefed the team on rainfall deficit, crop losses, drinking water shortage, and fodder availability. Shivakumar said relief was needed to prevent further strain on the rural economy. “If farmers are pushed into distress, the entire system comes to a standstill. Therefore, the central govt must come forward to support the farmers of Karnataka,” he said.“We’ve never seen people suffer to this extent. This is an extremely distressing situation. 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. Urban areas, too, were reporting water shortages.“Despite this, Cauvery Water Management Authority is directing the release of water into Cauvery river. The state govt has announced Rs 2,500 in relief for farmers, but we are expecting greater assistance from the Centre,” he said.Many sections hitGovt also highlighted pressure on different sections of the rural economy. “Farmers are facing severe hardship. Sugarcane growers are demanding higher prices, while milk producers are seeking an increase of at least Rs 10 in milk prices. In this challenging situation, let the Centre and state work together,” the CM added.Three central teams are assessing the situation in the Tumakuru-Chitradurga-Davanagere belt, North Karnataka, and Mysuru region. They will meet deputy commissioners and local officials and verify data submitted by the state. Sahu assured Shivakumar that the teams would assess the situation on the ground, collect data and submit an objective report.The state has already submitted two memoranda seeking drought assistance. The second, covering 177 taluks, estimated losses at around Rs 46,000 crore. Govt has put the overall damage at Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore. A final memorandum covering all 217 drought-hit taluks will be submitted after the central teams complete their assessment.Kharge to PM: 31 lakh families need help nowMore 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. Sharing the letter on X, the Rajya Sabha LoP sought Modi’s personal intervention.“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.Kharge also sought input subsidies based on Karnataka’s updated Bhoomi land records instead of the outdated 2015-16 agriculture census, to ensure no eligible farmer is excluded.
