(Image source from: Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

During a discussion on the dire drought situation in the state, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda informed the assembly on Monday that a sum of Rs 895 crore has been allocated to deputy commissioners and tahsildars for drought management. The Minister stated that 223 taluks have been declared drought-hit due to the significant deficiency in monsoon rainfall. Despite a sowing target of 82.95 lakh hectares for the year, only 74 percent of the area has been cultivated.

The drought has caused damage to 48 lakh hectares of crops, including 46 lakh hectares of agriculture and 2 lakh hectares of horticulture. In order to assess the severity of the drought and the plight of farmers, Minister Gowda visited 22 districts and held 133 meetings at the district level, led by Deputy Commissioners, to discuss drought management. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the state government has submitted a memorandum to the Central government, requesting assistance totaling Rs 18,171 crore. However, despite the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee's study tour and submission of a report, relief has not yet been provided by the Centre. Urging the Centre to expedite assistance, the Revenue Minister emphasized the need for immediate action.

To tackle the issue of inadequate water supply in both rural and urban areas, the government has taken a proactive approach by identifying 6,237 villages and 914 urban wards that are at risk of facing drinking water problems by early next year. Despite the absence of funds from the central government, the Karnataka state government has decided to provide immediate assistance to farmers affected by drought. In order to ensure transparency and prevent misuse, the compensation of Rs 2,000 will be directly deposited into the farmers' accounts, with the initial payments set to be made this week.