New Delhi: The Karnataka government demanded £1.79 billion in funds from the Centre to compensate farmers affected due to drought in the Kharif season this year. Karnataka Agriculture Minister N Chaluvaraya Swamy, Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, and Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda met Union Agriculture Secretary Manoj Kumar Ahuja and Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla separately and updated them about the drought situation in Karnataka.
The three state ministers are also members of the Karnataka Cabinet sub-committee on drought management. Briefing the media after the meeting, Byregowda said, "We have sought a total drought relief of 1.79 billion as per the NDRF norms. We have requested the central government to clear the funds at the earliest.
As of September 22, the state as a whole recorded 26 per cent deficit rainfall that led to an estimated agriculture and horticulture crop loss in about 45,55,000 hectares during the kharif season, he said.
The state has so far declared drought in 216 taluks and will examine the possibility of declaring more taluks as drought-hit in the first week of November, he said.
Out of £1.79 bn estimated drought relief funds, the Revenue Minister said the state government for the first time has demanded £1.25 billion as gratuitous relief to families whose livelihood has been seriously affected due to drought for 90 days.
The state has also demanded £441.42 million for agriculture and horticulture crop loss during the kharif season (July-June) this year, while £35.5million towards animal feed and £55.4 million for providing drinking water assistance in drought-affected taluks, he added.
The Karnataka government has estimated a total loss due to the crop damage in the state at £3.37 billion. It has sought assistance of £1.79 billion under the National Disaster Relief Find (NDRF).
Byregowda also said that the state government has requested the Centre to consider the latest number of small and marginal farmers which is 70 per cent of the state population while sanctioning the relief fund.
The state Rural Development Minister Kharge said he requested the Centre to release the pending £ 60 million MGNREGA funds to the state in a separate meeting with the Union Rural Development Secretary.