Karnataka Seeks ₹7,500 Crore in Drought Relief as Central Team Begins Field Inspection
Karnataka is grappling with a severe agrarian crisis after recording widespread rainfall deficits, prompting the state government to seek ₹7,500 crore in central assistance. Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara announced on Sunday that the state has sustained losses estimated at approximately ₹46,000 crore across two distinct phases of drought.
A high-level central assessment team, headed by Ajit Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture, has arrived in the state to verify the extent of the damage. The team has been divided into three groups tasked with conducting thorough inspections across North, Central, and other regions of Karnataka through October 6.
Adhering to Central Norms
Minister Parameshwara emphasized that the state’s demand for financial aid is strictly aligned with the Union Government’s prescribed drought relief guidelines. By avoiding requests that fall outside established protocols, the state government aims to minimize the likelihood of its appeal being dismissed.
“We have assessed our losses and requested relief in accordance with the benchmarks set by the Centre,” Parameshwara stated. “By sticking to these parameters, we have ensured our claim is based on the legal entitlements provided to states under national disaster relief frameworks.”
The government’s memorandum for aid is divided into two parts: an initial assessment of ₹18,000 crore in losses, for which ₹3,700 crore was requested, and a subsequent report covering 77 additional taluks, estimating further damages of ₹27,000 crore with a requested relief of ₹3,500 crore.
Rainfall Deficits and Crop Destruction
The Minister urged the visiting central delegation to base their findings on the prolonged dry spell experienced during June, July, August, and September rather than recent, sporadic showers. According to state officials, Karnataka has suffered an 82% crop loss that cannot be reversed by minor rainfall.
“The recent rain has provided negligible relief. It has not replenished our water sources for drinking, nor has it salvaged crops that were already decimated,” the Minister explained. “The deficit recorded over those four critical months remains the primary driver of this crisis.”
Currently, 217 out of Karnataka’s 240 taluks have been declared drought-affected. With ground-truthing still underway in remaining areas, that number could rise. The government reports that 49 lakh farmers are enrolled in insurance schemes, and authorities are currently prioritizing water conservation in reservoirs for drinking purposes over irrigation to mitigate the scarcity.
Political Pressure and Hopes for Cooperation
The crisis has also gained traction at the national political level. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting that the state’s rainfall deficiency reached 58% by September. Kharge warned that this could be the most devastating drought in 150 years, potentially affecting over 31 lakh farming families.
As the central team begins its four-day assessment, the state government remains hopeful that the process will be collaborative. Remembering past tensions that led the state to approach the Supreme Court for drought relief, Parameshwara expressed a desire to avoid legal escalation.
“We are choosing to be optimistic that the Union Government will fulfill its responsibility and provide the support Karnataka is legally entitled to,” he said, adding that the state has already initiated relief efforts, including job creation programs that have generated over 1.27 lakh person-days of employment in affected districts.
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