Karnataka Hit by Rs 62,000 Crore Loss; Govt to Seek Drought Relief from Centre
Dy CM G Parameshwara announces a delegation to Delhi to seek drought relief after Karnataka suffered an estimated loss of Rs 62,000 crore.
Karnataka is grappling with a severe economic blow following a devastating drought, with Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara revealing that the state has suffered an estimated loss of approximately Rs 62,000 crore. In response to this crisis, the state government is preparing to move the Central government for financial assistance to mitigate the impact on the region.
All-Party Consensus for Delhi Visit
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Deputy CM G Parameshwara announced that the state administration will convene an all-party meeting to build a unified front before heading to the national capital. Now that the Dasara festivities have concluded, the government is shifting its focus toward urgent administrative decisions.
The Deputy CM emphasized that a high-level delegation will be sent to Delhi to formally request drought relief. He noted that while the total loss is staggering, the request for funds will be strategic and based on existing frameworks.
"Now, a loss of about Rs 62,000 crore has happened. They are calculating how much to ask for. There are their guidelines, NDRF. We cannot ask for the entire Rs 62,000 crore loss. Based on NDRF, we will calculate and go and ask them," Parameshwara stated.
CM Shivakumar Pushes for Project Clearances in Delhi
While the state prepares for the drought relief mission, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has already been active in the national capital. On Thursday, the Chief Minister met with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, to resolve several long-standing bottlenecks regarding state projects.
Key Points of Discussion:
- The Mekedatu Project: Discussions focused on obtaining necessary forest and wildlife clearances to move the project forward.
- Kasturirangan Report: The CM discussed the recommendations of the report and their implementation.
- Coastal Policy: Shivakumar highlighted the need for a new policy regarding environmental impact issues along the coast.
The Chief Minister described the meeting as "constructive," stating that Union Minister Bhupender Yadav responded positively to the requests. According to Shivakumar, the Union Minister has agreed to start formal inter-ministerial deliberations to speed up the pending approvals.
Furthermore, it was agreed that the Union Forest Minister and the Water Resources Minister would hold a joint meeting to specifically address the clearances required for the Mekedatu issue and other environmental concerns.