Karnataka seeks higher drought relief package

During the present year, the state has seen agricultural crop loss of Rs 1,016.99 cr

Drought-affected Karnataka has urged the inter-ministerial central team to recommend a higher drought relief package for the state. The state government has already sent a proposal for Rs 1,014.15 crore package to the central government to compensate the farmers towards the loss of food and commercial crops suffered due to drought and floods at several places in the state.

Addressing a meeting of the inter-ministerial central team, which visited several places in the state to assess the damage, and other senior officials of the state government, chief minister Siddaramaiah said during the present year, the state had seen agricultural crop loss of Rs 1,016.99 crore and Rs 702.30 crore losses to horticultural crops. According to the guidelines of Drought Relief Fund, the state government should be given a relief package of Rs 1,014.15 crore, he said.

Of this, Rs 202.33 crore is towards the compensation for crop loss, Rs 198.23 crore special relief package for loss of areca nut crop, Rs 292.50 crore for cattle and fodder bank and Rs 41.09 crore to fight animal diseases and the remaining Rs 280 crore for supply of drinking water.

The chief minister also directed the state officials to provide additional information, if required by the Central team immediately.

"During the monsoon season this year, the state witnessed excess rains in coastal and Malnad regions, while the north and south interior areas saw deficit rainfall and several other places continued to face drought. As a result of drought for the last three years, the groundwater table has gone to as low as 1,500 feet. We are supplying tanker water to many places where nitrate and fluoride content is very high. To make alternative arrangements in these areas, we need additional funds," Siddaramaiah told the team.

Responding to the state government demands, RB Sinha, joint secretary - agriculture and cooperation, who is leading the central team, said they were convinced of the grave situation prevailing in the state and it would soon submit its report to the central government.

"We have personally seen the crop loss to groundnut, ragi and other crops. We will try to capture the graveness of the situation and report to the Centre accordingly," he said.

The central drought study team visited 14 districts in the state between December 23 and 25.