Karnataka’s Massive Drought Reality Briefed to Central Team
Deputy CM G Parameshwara briefs a high-level Central team on Karnataka's massive crop losses and the urgent need for drought relief.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara has provided a comprehensive briefing to a high-level Central assessment team regarding the severe drought conditions currently ravaging the state. The briefing detailed the heavy rainfall deficit, massive crop losses, and the critical drinking water crisis facing various regions.
A Massive ₹46,000 Crore Economic Blow
The scale of the agricultural devastation in Karnataka is immense. According to Deputy CM Parameshwara, the state has faced staggering losses across two distinct phases of assessment:
- First Phase: Estimated losses reached approximately ₹18,000 crore, with the state seeking ₹3,700 crore in relief.
- Second Phase: Losses in 77 drought-affected taluks were estimated at ₹27,000 crore, leading to a request for ₹3,500 crore in relief.
In total, the state has reported losses amounting to roughly ₹46,000 crore. Following Union Government guidelines, Karnataka has officially sought approximately ₹7,500 crore in total relief to support its affected farmers.
Ground Reality: Beyond the Numbers
The Central team, led by Union Government Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar Sahu, has been tasked with verifying the actual conditions on the ground. To ensure a thorough investigation, officials have been divided into three specialized teams to inspect:
- North Karnataka
- Central Karnataka
- Other affected regions of the State
The team will spend the next four days visiting various parts of the state to directly observe the impact of the drought. This visit is crucial to ensure that the final evaluation by the Centre is based on the actual, lived reality of the farmers.
Critical Concerns: Water, Fodder, and Migration
The briefing to the Central team went beyond mere financial figures, covering several vital survival aspects for the state's rural population:
Drinking Water and Reservoirs: The team was informed about the dwindling water levels in lakes and reservoirs. To protect the drinking water supply, the state has taken the difficult decision not to release reservoir water for irrigation purposes.
Crop Insurance and Subsidies: In a significant milestone, Karnataka has recorded its highest-ever enrollment for crop insurance, with approximately 49 lakh farmers registered. The state briefed the team on the mechanisms in place to ensure these benefits and input subsidies reach the intended recipients.
Preventing Distress Migration: To combat the risk of farmers being forced to migrate due to lack of livelihood, the state has already initiated works generating around 1.27 lakh person-days of employment.
Will Recent Rainfall Change the Assessment?
Addressing concerns about recent light showers in certain parts of the state, Dr. Parameshwara clarified that while the team would take the recent weather into account, it would not significantly alter the assessment of damage already sustained. The state has already suffered an estimated 82% crop loss, and recent rain is insufficient to repair the extensive damage already inflicted on the fields.