1 day ago
Karnataka Plans Second Drought List After Wider Coverage Demands
Karnataka is facing a serious lack of rain.
The government has already named 101 taluks as drought-affected.
People in other areas want their taluks added too.
DK Shivakumar said officials are checking all places where the drought may be genuine.
A second list will be announced after the checks are finished.
The government must follow rules and make its report acceptable to Central Government officials.
Gadag is especially badly affected, with rainfall far below normal.
Farmers there may lose most of their crops.
The government is also arranging money and drinking water to help people.
Karnataka has declared 101 taluks drought-affected and is assessing additional areas for a second list.
DK Shivakumar said the review would follow prescribed guidelines and include reports from officials and district in-charge ministers.
Opposition leader R Ashoka said around 170 taluks, rather than 101, should be declared drought-hit.
The government said its assessment must correspond with the Central Government’s findings to receive drought assistance.
Gadag reported rainfall 40 per cent below normal, with officials warning that farmers could receive only 10 to 15 per cent of expected crops.
- Who
- The Karnataka government, led in the statements by DK Shivakumar, along with district officials and ministers, is assessing drought conditions; opposition leader R Ashoka is demanding wider coverage.
- What
- The state is preparing a second list of drought-affected taluks after initially declaring 101 taluks drought-hit.
- Where
- The assessment covers Karnataka, with particular concern in Gadag, Dharwad, Bagalkot and other areas, especially in North Karnataka.
- When
- The statements were made on Tuesday; the government said the second list would be announced shortly and that assessments would be reviewed periodically.
- Why
- Additional taluks have reported drought conditions, while the state must follow prescribed rules and secure acceptance from the Central Government for drought assistance.
Government Assessment
Opposition and Local Demands
Number of drought-hit taluks
Government Assessment
The government says 101 taluks have qualified so far and that other areas will be included only after assessment under prescribed rules.
Opposition and Local Demands
R Ashoka says the number should be around 170, while residents of several excluded taluks have demanded inclusion through protests and bandhs.
Assessment process
Government Assessment
Shivakumar says departmental officials and district in-charge ministers are examining conditions, and the state’s report must be accepted by the Central Government’s drought assessment team.
Opposition and Local Demands
Opposition criticism focuses on the assessment being delayed or too limited, with Ashoka saying more taluks should already have been declared drought-affected.
Response to the crisis
Government Assessment
The government says it is providing drinking-water funds, reviewing conditions periodically and considering additional areas for a second list.
Opposition and Local Demands
The BJP is raising the drought situation during a 10-day padayatra and argues that the government should expand the drought declaration.
Key facts
- Initial declaration
- 101 taluks were declared drought-affected.
- Taluks under review
- The articles report that additional taluks were being assessed; one account specifically says 32 were under review.
- Rainfall deficit
- Karnataka received 465 mm of rain between June 1 and August 26, compared with a normal 666 mm, according to the cited figures.
- Gadag conditions
- Shivakumar said Gadag’s rainfall was 40 per cent below normal and described the situation as the district’s worst drought in five decades.
- Crop outlook
- Shivakumar said some farmers may receive only 10 to 15 per cent of their crop.
- Drinking-water funding
- Rs 1 crore was provided to each rural Assembly constituency, with additional funds placed with Deputy Commissioners.
- Opposition demand
- R Ashoka said around 170 taluks should be declared drought-affected.
Quotes
DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister speaking about the forthcoming drought-hit taluk list
“The livelihood of farmers is at risk and people are worried. When I came by helicopter, I saw that sowing had not taken place in many places. Even where sowing has been done, farmers may not get even 10 to 15 per cent of the crop.”
deccanchronicle.com
“According to that, the Revenue Department officials and officials from the different departments will directly examine everything, and accordingly, they will announce the drought-affected areas. We have to have a little patience.”
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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