Three central teams to visit Karnataka to assess drought situation
Three Union Government teams will visit Karnataka to assess drought conditions across North Karnataka, Mysuru, and the Tumakuru region.
In a significant move to address the escalating water crisis, three specialized teams from the Union Government are set to arrive in Karnataka to conduct a thorough assessment of the drought situation. This development follows an official request from the State Government to evaluate the impact of the dry spell across various regions.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara announced the upcoming visits, noting that the central teams will be tasked with inspecting drought-stricken areas and submitting detailed reports to the Union Government. The State has already submitted an initial memorandum, and a final, more comprehensive document is being prepared.
Regional breakdown of the assessment
To ensure a wide-reaching and precise evaluation, the central teams have been divided into three specific zones of operation:
- The Central Region: One team will focus on the Tumakuru, Chitradurga, and Davanagere regions.
- North Karnataka: A second team will be dedicated to assessing the districts across the northern part of the state.
- The Mysuru Region: A third team will cover Mandya, Mysuru, and Chamarajanagar.
These teams are expected to visit various taluks that have already been declared drought-affected by the State. During their field visits, they will hold direct discussions with Deputy Commissioners and local officials to verify the ground reality.
Ensuring accuracy through ground truthing
A key objective of these visits is to cross-reference the State Government's findings with the actual conditions on the ground. Deputy CM Parameshwara addressed concerns regarding potential discrepancies, stating that the State has strictly followed prescribed guidelines when declaring taluks as drought-affected.
"Taluks that did not fall within the guidelines were not declared drought-affected. Therefore, there is unlikely to be any major difference between the State Government’s report and the findings of the Central teams," Parameshwara explained.
The State is currently undergoing further ground truthing processes. With the monsoon period concluding on September 30, the government aims to submit its final, comprehensive memorandum—detailing total losses and required relief—to the Union Government in the first week of October.
A call for political unity in disaster relief
Highlighting the humanitarian nature of the crisis, G Parameshwara emphasized that drought is a natural disaster that transcends political boundaries. He reiterated the Chief Minister's proposal to form an all-party delegation to represent Karnataka's interests before the Centre.
Regarding the potential participation of BJP leaders, the Deputy CM noted that since the BJP is in power at the Centre, their involvement would significantly strengthen the State's case. "Drought is not a party issue; it concerns the interests of the people of Karnataka," he said, adding that the State would fulfill its responsibilities even if opposition leaders chose not to join the delegation.
The Deputy CM also issued a firm reminder to the Union Government, stating that the State hopes to avoid a repeat of last year's situation, where the government was forced to approach the courts to seek relief. He appealed to the authorities to respond proactively to the State's request to ensure the welfare of the affected citizens.