BENGALURU: Karnataka is likely to add another 25 taluks to its drought-hit list, and complete the second phase of drought assessment shortly, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said.
He told reporters on Tuesday that 101 taluks have already been declared drought-hit, while assessment continues in other areas. The last 25 taluks have met the criteria for drought declaration and will be notified soon. He said the assessment was being carried out scientifically, based on satellite imagery, ground-truthing and technical studies.
Drought assessment is still under way in phases, and there is no delay in declaring drought-hit areas. The assessment will continue as long as there is shortfall in both the monsoon and post-monsoon rains.
“Last time, nearly 200 taluks were declared drought-hit. This year too, there is a possibility that more than 200 taluks may be declared drought-hit. Except for the coastal region, drought conditions prevail across most parts of the state,’’ he said.
Responding to protests by some legislators who have alleged that their taluks were deliberately excluded from the list, despite severe drought conditions, Parameshwara said there was no need for anyone to be concerned. “The entire state is facing drought today.
No individual in the state government has any role in deciding which taluks are drought-hit. The allegation that certain taluks have been deliberately excluded is baseless. Drought does not occur based on political affiliation. The list already includes taluks represented by Opposition legislators,” he said.
The DCM said if the state government were to declare drought-hit areas on its own, it would not be possible to seek relief from the Union government. “It is better we follow the prescribed process to secure Central drought relief. Drought-hit areas are declared in accordance with the Union government’s guidelines,” he said.
‘No split within AHINDA’
Responding to a question on a divide within the AHINDA bloc after Satish Jarkiholi and HC Mahadevappa were reportedly not invited to the felicitation programme for Siddaramaiah, organised by the Karnataka State Federation of Backward Classes, Parameshwara clarified that the programme held recently was not an AHINDA convention. “There is no division among us and the leadership has not split into different camps,” he said.
