Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and sought drought relief aid of Rs 2,064 crore for the southern state.
“As frequent droughts and erratic rainfall have made agriculture unsustainable in the state… I request you to expedite the process to release Rs 2,064 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund,” Kumaraswamy said in a memorandum submitted to Modi.
The state has been reeling under drought due to scarce rainfall in the interior and northern districts and has also been affected due to the floods and landslides which hit Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts in August 2018.
Prolonged dry spells and deficit rainfall have caused severe drought in 100 of the 176 talukas (sub-districts) in the state, Kumaraswamy informed the Prime Minister.
Pegging the losses incurred due to the drought situation at Rs 16,500 crore, the state government had asked the Centre for an assistance of Rs 2,434 crore, but was granted only Rs 949.49 crore in January, he said.
“Crop loss during kharif and rabi seasons altogether is Rs 32,335 crore, which has had adverse effect on the state’s economy,” the Chief Minister said.
Kumaraswamy also sought Rs 1,351 crore towards the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
[source_without_link]IANS[/source_without_link]