Karnataka drought list may cross 200 taluks as assessment continues

More than 200 taluks in Karnataka are likely to be included in the drought-affected list as the state government completes its assessment in phases, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said on Sunday. He said the process is being carried out on the basis of prescribed criteria and ground-truthing, and will continue till the end of the monsoon season.

He also said the state legislature will hold a three-day Special Session to discuss the drought situation and the Kasturirangan report on ecologically sensitive areas in the Western Ghats. The session will take up crop losses, assistance for farmers and the relief being sought from the Union government, while also considering the Opposition's views.

Parameshwara, who also holds the Revenue portfolio, said 101 taluks were declared drought-affected in the first phase, followed by another 24. He said 52 more taluks are expected to be declared drought-affected in the next three to four days. In the next phase, around 50 more taluks will undergo ground-truthing before a decision is taken. "Based on the data available now, more than 200 taluks across the state are likely to be included in the drought-affected list," he told reporters.

He said taluks such as Jagaluru, which have not yet been included, could be declared drought-affected in later phases if they meet the prescribed criteria. "People need not be anxious if their taluk has not yet been included in the list," he said.

Parameshwara said the government would discuss drought relief and a waiver of farmers' loans from the Centre during the Special Session. He said the state intended to take the Opposition into confidence and present Karnataka's demands before the Union government.

According to him, the 101 taluks declared drought-affected in the first phase have reported losses of around Rs 18,000 crore, and the state has sought about Rs 3,500 crore from the Union government as relief. He said this amount was sought through the first memorandum, and that second and third memoranda would be submitted after including losses in taluks declared drought-affected in later phases.

Referring to last year, Parameshwara said Karnataka suffered estimated losses of about Rs 39,000 crore and sought Rs 18,000 crore in relief from the Centre, but received only around Rs 3,400 crore. He said that in view of the distress faced by farmers, the Union government should consider measures to support farmers across the country, and added that the state would also urge the Centre to waive farmers' loans, referring to the farm loan waiver announced during former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tenure.

He also alleged that Karnataka was not receiving its due share and that funds under various schemes were not being released adequately by the Union government. "Karnataka is yet to receive around Rs 17,000 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission," he said, alleging that the Centre was adopting a "step-motherly attitude" towards the state. He said the government would place its demands before the Centre after taking the Opposition into confidence.

Overall, the state expects the number of drought-hit taluks to rise beyond 200 as assessments continue, while the Special Session is set to focus on losses, relief, farmers' support and Karnataka's demands to the Union government.