Karnataka Drought Losses May Touch Rs 60,000 Crore, Says Dy CM G Parameshwara.
Bengaluru:
Karnataka’s drought-related losses could rise to between Rs 50,000 crore and Rs 60,000 crore, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said on Saturday, as the state prepares for an on-ground assessment by three Central government teams.
Parameshwara said 217 taluks have so far been declared drought-hit in the state. Of these, loss assessments have been completed in 177 taluks, with the state government estimating losses of around Rs 46,000 crore.
“Loss assessments have been completed for 177 of these taluks, and the second memorandum submitted to the Centre has reported losses of approximately Rs 46,000 crore,” Parameshwara told reporters.
Assessment underway in 40 more taluks
The remaining 40 taluks, which were declared drought-hit on October 1, are currently undergoing assessment. According to Parameshwara, once the losses from all 217 taluks are consolidated, the total estimated damage could reach Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore.
The state government will seek drought relief from the Centre in accordance with the applicable Central government guidelines, he said.
The government has already submitted two memorandums seeking drought assistance. The second memorandum covered the estimated losses in 177 taluks and pegged the damage at approximately Rs 46,000 crore.
After the ongoing assessments are completed, Karnataka plans to submit a third and final memorandum covering all 217 drought-hit taluks.
22 taluks yet to be declared drought-hit
Parameshwara also said that 22 taluks have not yet been declared drought-hit, but these areas will also undergo ground-truthing.
He said the field assessment could establish that one, two or three of these taluks may meet the criteria for drought declaration. However, some taluks in the coastal region do not appear to be experiencing drought-like conditions.
“Appropriate action will be taken based on the actual situation established after the assessment,” he said.
Recent rainfall unlikely to alter crop-loss assessment
Addressing concerns over recent rainfall in parts of Karnataka, Parameshwara said the latest showers would not substantially alter the drought assessment.
While the rainfall could provide some relief, particularly by improving drinking water availability, it was unlikely to significantly benefit crops that had already suffered during the critical agricultural months, he said.
The state government will explain to the Central teams the conditions that prevailed during May, June, July, August and September. The drought memorandums submitted to the Centre already document the situation during these months.
“The drought situation will not be determined solely on the basis of recent rainfall,” Parameshwara said.
Three Central teams to inspect drought-hit regions
Three Central government teams comprising Joint Secretaries and officials from various ministries, including the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, are arriving in Karnataka to assess the drought situation.
The teams will visit three regions of the state and conduct ground-level assessments of rainfall patterns, crop losses and the overall impact of drought.
According to Parameshwara, the teams will begin their inspections after receiving a briefing on the state’s drought situation. Separate Central teams have already begun inspections in some areas.
The state government expects the field assessment to provide a detailed picture of the losses before the final memorandum is submitted.
Final assessment to determine overall relief claim
The final estimate of Karnataka’s drought losses will depend on the assessment of the remaining 40 drought-hit taluks, the ground-truthing exercise in the 22 taluks that have not yet been declared drought-hit, and the findings of the Central teams.
If the current estimates are confirmed, the total losses across the state’s drought-hit areas could reach Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore, significantly higher than the Rs 46,000 crore estimated for the 177 taluks covered in the second memorandum.
The state government will use the consolidated assessment as the basis for its final request for drought relief from the Centre.
