Karnataka to declare 21 Taluks as drought hit in addition to 139 soon: Revenue Minister 

Bengaluru: The number of drought hit taluks in the state are expected to rise from 139 to 160 as the Karnataka is facing severe water shortage, said state Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa speaking to reporters herein the state capital on Tuesday after a sub committee meeting of the state cabinet which decided to declare 21 taluks of the state as drought hit in addition to 139 taluks which had been declared as drought hit last year.

Generally, cereals, pulses and others would have sown on an area of 33 lakh hectares in the state during Northeast monsoon season. However, sown area is limits to only 25 lakh hectares this year.

The names of 21 taluks will be released after a meeting of state cabinet very soon. A failure of Northeast monsoon rains has hit the life of the farmers and the government has ordered the respective deputy commissioners of the districts to collect information on crop damage due to water scarcity.

Answering to a question, Kogodu Thimmappa said, the government has asked the concerned authorities to drill bore wells where there is severe water scarcity and government has already released Rs 10 crore for the purchase of fodder. 

The union government hasn’t yet released Rs 1782 crore as drought relief fund as declared last week. Once the drought relief fund is credited to the state treasury, then it will be deposited the bank accounts of 35 lakh farmers of drought ridden taluks of Karnataka, revenue minister said.