Bengaluru: Karnataka Government has written to the Central Government seeking to relax the rules regarding declaration of drought in Karnataka.
There is drought situation in many taluks due to lack of rain. But the existing rules are hindering the declaration of drought in these taluks. So Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has requested the Central Government in a letter to change the criteria for drought declaration.
In this letter to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, it is stated that farmers will lose input subsidies in case of crop failure if drought-prone areas are declared in the state as per the current rules. The Central Government has laid down some strict criteria for declaring taluks as drought-prone. There should be 60% rain deficit. There is a rule that there should be no rain for three weeks. Now there is no 60% rain deficiency anywhere, it is noted. Therefore, a letter has been written to the Central Government regarding the revision of the criteria.
Presently the state is deficient in monsoon rains. 336 mm of normal rainfall was expected in Karnataka. But 234 mm of rain has fallen. 56% rainfall deficit in June due to weak monsoon. There is a drought situation in several taluks of the state. But it is not possible to declare a drought as per the current regulations. Therefore, in a letter, he urged the Union Agriculture Minister to intervene to change the criteria for drought declaration. The letter explained that the state’s hands have been tied as the Central Government has tightened the norms.