Karnataka Minister Urges Fair Drought Assessment and Early Relief
Deputy CM G Parameshwara urges Central team to conduct a fair assessment of Karnataka's severe drought and provide urgent financial assistance.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara has made an urgent plea to the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to conduct a fair and comprehensive assessment of the state's dire drought situation. Speaking during a briefing in Bengaluru, Parameshwara emphasized the need for timely central assistance to mitigate a crisis that has devastated agriculture, horticulture, and rural livelihoods across the state.
Addressing the team at the Chief Minister’s Home Office, Krishna, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, the Deputy CM described the current crisis as one of the most severe witnessed in recent decades.
A Devastating Blow to Agriculture
The scale of the agricultural failure has been catastrophic. Parameshwara highlighted the struggle of farmers who have faced repeated setbacks due to erratic weather patterns. “This is one of the most severe droughts we have experienced in our time. In many places, crops germinated and dried up after just two leaves,” he explained.
He further noted that even after farmers attempted a second sowing following brief spells of rain, those crops also failed. “If you visit the fields today, in several places there is practically no crop left,” he added, painting a grim picture of the ground reality.
Unprecedented Scale of the Crisis
The drought has gripped nearly the entire state, with the government declaring 217 out of 240 taluks as drought-affected. The economic impact is staggering, with the following figures highlighting the severity:
- Affected Area: Crop loss has been reported across approximately 47.09 lakh hectares.
- Economic Loss: The estimated economic damage stands at ₹46,324.50 crore.
- Rainfall Deficit: Karnataka recorded a 35% cumulative rainfall deficit during the Southwest Monsoon 2026, receiving only 551 mm of rain—the second-lowest since 1956.
- District Impact: Rainfall deficiency was reported in 30 of the state's 31 districts.
Demands for Financial Assistance
The state government has been proactive in seeking help from the Union government. Parameshwara revealed that successive leadership, including Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, have sent multiple communications to the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and the Union Agriculture Minister. However, he expressed frustration over the lack of response.
“We have written several letters... But not a single response has come so far. We request you to look into this and help us in taking the relief process forward,” Parameshwara stated.
To address the crisis, Karnataka has submitted two major memoranda seeking assistance:
- A first memorandum seeking ₹3,705.30 crore in NDRF assistance for 101 taluks.
- A supplementary memorandum submitted on October 1 seeking ₹3,437.34 crore for an additional 76 taluks.
In total, the state is seeking ₹7,142.64 crore in Central assistance for the 177 taluks assessed so far.
Adherence to National Guidelines
Despite pressure from legislators to declare more areas as drought-hit, Parameshwara maintained that the state has strictly followed the Government of India’s Manual for Drought Management. He assured the Central team that all assessments were made based on prescribed parameters rather than political requests.
“We are not asking for anything extra. Our only appeal is that you make a fair assessment. Please see the reality on the ground and help us get the assistance that is genuinely due to the State,” the Deputy CM concluded.