Bengaluru: Karnataka will submit a fresh memorandum seeking drought relief from the Centre by the end of August or the first week of September after assessing the drought situation across the state, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday.
Speaking in Mysuru, Parameshwara said the state government has already declared 101 taluks drought-hit and will review the situation over the next 15 days. More taluks could be added to the list depending on the assessment, he said.
The government is currently assessing crop losses and will prepare the memorandum based on the findings. A central team is expected to visit Karnataka for an on-ground assessment before the relief process is initiated, Parameshwara said.
He said the government’s immediate priorities are ensuring drinking water, fodder for livestock and employment opportunities to prevent rural migration. A decision on compensation to farmers on a per-acre basis will also be taken shortly, he added.
Recalling the 2023 drought, Parameshwara said Karnataka had suffered losses of around ₹39,000 crore and had sought ₹18,000 crore in compensation from the Centre. Around ₹3,500 crore was subsequently released following the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Parameshwara said he had urged the Centre to ensure that Karnataka does not face a similar delay in drought assistance this time. He also demanded the immediate release of the Centre’s ₹1,200 crore share under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Once the funds are released, the government will take steps to distribute compensation to farmers within seven to 10 days, he said. The Centre and state governments contribute to the SDRF in a 75:25 ratio, Parameshwara added.
