Karnataka to Seek Central Drought Relief by September First Week

Karnataka will submit a memorandum to the central government seeking drought relief by the first week of September, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said in Bengaluru.

The state government has declared 101 taluks as drought-affected so far and will continue assessing ground conditions across the state for another 15 days. Parameshwara noted that more taluks could be added to the official list based on findings from the ongoing assessment. Following the submission of the memorandum, central teams are scheduled to visit Karnataka to conduct surveys, after which drought relief assistance will be formally released.

Parameshwara stated that the Centre had decided to provide Rs 1,200 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and the state government has sought its immediate release to help alleviate agrarian distress. The SDRF contribution is shared between the state and central governments in a 25:75 ratio. Parameshwara said the funds would be distributed directly to affected farmers within a week to ten days of receipt.

The state government has identified key immediate priorities to manage the unfolding crisis, including ensuring sufficient drinking water supplies, arranging fodder for livestock, and creating employment opportunities to curb distress migration from rural areas. The administration is also preparing to determine the specific per-acre compensation amounts to be disbursed to farmers.

Highlighting past challenges, Parameshwara recalled the severe drought experienced in 2023, during which Karnataka suffered estimated losses of Rs 39,000 crore. The state had submitted a proposal seeking Rs 18,000 crore in financial assistance at the time, eventually approaching the Supreme Court before Rs 3,500 crore was released. He urged the Centre to avoid a repeat of those delays and ensure the prompt release of current relief allocations under the SDRF.