BENGALURU: Karnataka has added another 53 taluks to its drought-hit list, taking the total number of drought-affected taluks in the state to 177, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Dr G Parameshwara said on Tuesday.
He added that the number could rise to around 200 based on ground conditions and further assessment.
Speaking in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, Dr Parameshwara said the government was declaring drought-hit taluks strictly according to the drought declaration guidelines framed by the Union Government in 2020. He said the state had not witnessed a drought of such severity in the last 150 years.
Initially, 101 taluks were declared drought-hit, followed by another 23 after continued assessment. With the addition of 53 more taluks, the total has now reached 177. He said assessment would continue based on rainfall deficiency, crop damage and other prescribed parameters, while highlighting that the assessment was a continuous process.
The state normally receives around 852 mm of rainfall, but only 642 mm has been recorded, resulting in an average rainfall deficit of 36%. Severe rainfall deficits were reported in several regions during the period from June to September 26, he informed the House.
The deficit was 46% in South Interior Karnataka, 44% in North Interior Karnataka, 38% in Malnad and 28% in the coastal region.
Dr Parameshwara said the rainfall deficit had severely affected agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods. In several areas, farmers sowed crops when rains began, only for the rainfall to stop and the germinated crops to dry up. Some farmers sowed again after rains returned, but those crops too suffered damage.
He further said that due to the deficit the state has seen a 82% crop loss due to the super El Niño phenomenon, which has also contributed to the rainfall deficit.
Explaining the process of declaring drought-hit taluks, Parameshwara said declaring all taluks as drought-affected without meeting the prescribed criteria could create difficulties in securing relief from the Union Government.
“The Union Government must provide Karnataka the drought relief under those guidelines. At the same time, the state government will continue assessing the situation and ensuring relief reaches farmers,” he said.
Take Immediate Steps to Help Farmers: Sharavana
Bengaluru: JDS MLC T A Sharavana urged the government to act immediately on the prevailing drought situation in the state and address the hardships faced by farmers by taking up necessary relief measures. Speaking at the special session on Tuesday, the MLC said the drought situation is severe and is directly affecting the lives of farmers. The government should not limit itself to mere words on the plight of farmers but must take immediate and necessary relief measures, he said.
Speaking on farm loan waiver, Sharavana brought to the notice of the government that former Chief Minister and present Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy had waived farm loans to the tune of about Rs. 25,000 crore during his tenure as the CM.
He said there is a need for such firm and pro-farmer decisions without having to plead before the Central Government, and the present government too must take immediate steps to provide necessary assistance to farmers. He demanded that the State Government take an all-party delegation to the Centre to secure necessary assistance from the Central Government.
