Karnataka’s Farmers Battle Devastating Drought, Seek Government Relief

Karnataka's Farmers Battle Devastating Drought, Seek Government Relief

VoM News Desk | October 15, 2023 | 09:41 PM IST | Karnataka | Follow on Google News

Karnataka’s Farmers Battle Devastating Drought, Seek Government Relief

Karnataka’s Farmers Battle Devastating Drought, Seek Government Relief

In a heart-wrenching revelation, Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently shared grim news concerning the state’s farming community. He disclosed that the farmers of Karnataka have been grappling with staggering losses, amounting to a staggering ₹30,000 crore this year due to a relentless and unforgiving drought. The repercussions of this crisis have been devastating, resulting in a substantial crop loss across 42 lakh hectares of agricultural land. Furthermore, out of the 236 taluks within the state, a staggering 216 have been officially declared as drought-hit areas.

Seeking Aid from the Central Government

Siddaramaiah announced that in line with the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines, the state government has petitioned the union government for financial assistance, requesting a substantial sum of ₹4,860 crore to alleviate the distress faced by the drought-stricken farmers. To assess the gravity of the situation, a central team has also undertaken an inspection of the affected regions.

The Green Drought Challenge

One unique facet of this year’s drought, Siddaramaiah pointed out, is the phenomenon known as a “green drought.” This unsettling phenomenon is characterized by the growth of crops without yielding any produce, adding an additional layer of adversity for the already suffering farming community.

Expanding the Drought List

As the gravity of the drought crisis became apparent, the state government issued an official notification, designating an additional 22 taluks as drought-affected. Out of these, 11 have been classified as severely drought-hit. This new declaration brings the total number of affected taluks to a daunting 216, comprising 189 in the severe drought category and 27 in the moderate drought category.

To address the alarming situation, the Karnataka government is making efforts to secure more relief funds from the central government, with the possibility of obtaining an additional ₹300-350 crore in accordance with the central government’s guidelines.

The plight of Karnataka’s farmers has reached a critical juncture, with former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai warning of an imminent agitation if four more districts—Haveri, Shiggaon, Hanagal, and Byadgi—are not declared drought-hit without further delay. Bommai has accused the government of prolonging the declaration process despite the severe circumstances, setting a deadline for action after October 9.

This crisis has sparked protests, with farmers’ association leaders urging the state government to convene a special session of the state legislature to address the issue of releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Tragically, they reported that over 300 farmers have taken their own lives due to the relentless rain deficit.

VoM News Desk

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