Bengaluru: Karnataka, currently grappling with the harsh realities of a severe drought, is awaiting the arrival of a central team tasked with assessing the extensive crop damage caused by a significant rainfall deficit during the monsoon season. The state government has taken the initiative to declare a staggering 195 taluks as drought-hit and has officially reached out to central authorities, appealing for compensation amounting to Rs. 4,000 crore through the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
This critical assessment mission, set to commence on October 5, will span the entire state and involve consultations with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who will provide a comprehensive overview of the dire situation. Three distinct teams will embark on this mission, dispersing across 12 districts to evaluate the losses suffered by farmers due to the acute rain shortage.
Stationed in Karnataka until October 9, these teams will conduct a thorough assessment in the following districts: Belagavi, Chikkaballapura, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Chitradurga, Haveri, Gadag, Koppal, Vijayanagara, Tumakuru, and Davanagere.
The distressing situation has prompted the Congress government in the state to declare drought conditions in 195 taluks across Karnataka. According to Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H K Patil, the state has incurred a staggering loss of Rs. 30,432 crore due to the drought. Additionally, horticultural crops have been severely impacted, with losses amounting to Rs. 2,655 crore.
Agriculture Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy has revealed that the state has witnessed a significant 52 percent loss in total food production targets for the South West Monsoon, with an estimated crop damage of 40 lakh hectares. Paddy, ragi, and jowar crops have been particularly hard-hit, painting a grim picture for Karnataka’s agricultural landscape.
Out of the 195 affected taluks, 161 are grappling with severe drought, 34 are facing normal drought conditions, and 40 are experiencing a rainfall shortage. Given these stark statistics, the state government has urgently sought relief from the Central government.
The central team’s visit to the specified districts will span five days, with the primary objective of compiling a comprehensive report for the Central authorities. This report will serve as the foundation for releasing compensation to the state.