Kumaraswamy seeks Rs 3,705 crore central aid for K’taka drought

Bengaluru, Sep 29 (IANS) Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday sought Rs 3,705.30 crore in Central assistance for Karnataka, citing severe drought conditions across the state and crop losses estimated at Rs 18,748.23 crore.

In a letter dated September 24 to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Kumaraswamy said Karnataka had recorded a 34 per cent rainfall deficit as of September 9.

Of the state's 31 districts, 30 faced rainfall deficiency, while 182 of 240 taluks were affected, he said.

Citing the Karnataka government's assessment, Kumaraswamy said 101 taluks had been declared drought-hit, of which 89 were classified as severely affected.

The drought has caused extensive damage to the agriculture sector, with crop losses reported across 19.52 lakh hectares. The estimated value of the crop loss stands at Rs 18,748.23 crore, he said.

Kumaraswamy also pointed out that the Karnataka government had sought Rs 3,705.30 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Considering the gravity of the situation and the distress faced by farmers in the affected areas, Kumaraswamy requested that an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) be sent to Karnataka at the earliest.

He said a Central team's assessment would help determine the extent of the drought and crop losses and facilitate consideration of additional assistance to Karnataka under the applicable norms.

In his reply to Kumaraswamy, dated September 29, Chouhan said the Centre’s assessment of the drought situation in Karnataka had already begun.

The Karnataka government submitted a memorandum seeking financial assistance from the NDRF and, immediately after receiving it on September 17, an Inter-Ministerial Central Team was constituted, Chouhan said.

The team will visit Karnataka from October 3 to 7 to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the drought-affected areas.

Chouhan said the IMCT would visit the state from October 3 to October 7 to conduct a field assessment of drought-affected areas and submit its report as per prevailing norms and guidelines.

Following the five-day assessment, the team’s report will be considered through the prescribed procedure for releasing NDRF assistance, Chouhan said.

The IMCT’s report will be examined by a sub-committee of the National Executive Committee (SC-NEC), headed by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, he added.

The High-Level Committee, headed by the Union Home Minister, will then approve the quantum of NDRF assistance. Chouhan said he was also a member of the committee.

Kumaraswamy stressed the need for a Central team to assess the scale of crop losses and the hardships faced by farmers, saying additional assistance should be considered under the applicable disaster relief norms.

Chouhan’s September 29 response indicated that the Centre’s assessment process had already commenced by the time Kumaraswamy wrote his letter. The IMCT had been constituted on September 17, with its Karnataka visit scheduled from October 3 to 7.

Chouhan also assured Kumaraswamy that the Centre would continue to extend all possible support to the Karnataka government’s efforts to address the drought.

He said the Government of India would continue to extend all possible support to the state government's efforts.

--IANS

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