Karnataka Reports Massive Rs 46,324 Crore Drought Loss
Karnataka estimates Rs 46,324 crore loss due to drought across 177 taluks and seeks massive central assistance for farmers and drinking water.
The Karnataka government has sounded a massive alarm over the devastating impact of the Kharif 2026 drought, estimating that the state has suffered staggering losses amounting to Rs 46,324.50 crore. The crisis has gripped 177 taluks across the state, prompting Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to meet with a Central assessment team to demand urgent financial intervention.
In a high-level meeting held on Saturday, the State government submitted formal memorandums to the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). The State is seeking a total of Rs 7,142.64 crore in assistance from the Centre under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to manage relief and mitigation efforts.
A Two-Phase Crisis: Breaking Down the Losses
The scale of the disaster grew as more regions were declared drought-hit. The state's demand for central aid was divided into two distinct phases:
- Phase One (101 Taluks): The initial assessment covered 101 taluks, where estimated losses reached Rs 18,748.23 crore. For this phase, the state sought Rs 3,705.30 crore, intended for agriculture (Rs 2,017.26 crore), animal husbandry (Rs 583.04 crore), drinking water (Rs 805 crore), and gratuitous relief (Rs 300 crore).
- Phase Two (76 Additional Taluks): As the drought spread, an additional 76 taluks were declared affected, bringing the total to 177. The estimated loss in these specific areas surged to Rs 27,576.22 crore. The state has requested an additional Rs 3,437.34 crore to cover agricultural input subsidies and drinking water needs.
Devastation in the Fields: Crops and Horticulture
The drought has left a trail of destruction across millions of hectares of farmland. In the supplementary phase alone, crop damage was reported over 27.57 lakh hectares. The breakdown of the agricultural carnage is significant:
Major Agricultural Crops Affected:
- Red gram: 6.49 lakh hectares
- Maize: 5.31 lakh hectares
- Cotton: 4.13 lakh hectares
- Sugarcane: 2.80 lakh hectares
- Soybean: 1.90 lakh hectares
- Green gram: 1.81 lakh hectares
Horticultural Impact:
The horticultural sector has also taken a heavy hit, with onion crops covering 0.54 lakh hectares, arecanut 0.33 lakh hectares, and red chilli 0.17 lakh hectares under threat.
The Rainfall Deficit: A 35 Per Cent Shortfall
The root of the crisis lies in a severe lack of monsoon rains. Between June 1 and September 16, Karnataka received only 495 mm of rainfall, a sharp decline compared to the normal expectation of 766 mm. This represents a 35 per cent deficit across the state.
The rainfall shortage was even more pronounced in specific regions:
- South Interior Karnataka: 47 per cent deficit
- North Interior Karnataka: 42 per cent deficit
- Malnad: 37 per cent deficit
- Coastal Karnataka: 27 per cent deficit
As the IMCT prepares to conduct on-the-spot assessments in the affected areas, the state government continues to push for immediate funds to support farmers, protect livestock, and ensure a steady supply of drinking water to drought-stricken communities. Meanwhile, ground-truth verification is currently underway in an additional 40 taluks.