Karnataka to submit drought memorandum to Centre by first week of September: Dy CM Parameshwara

Bengaluru, Aug 29 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister, G. Parameshwara, on Saturday said the state government would submit a memorandum to the Centre seeking drought relief by the end of August or the first week of September.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Parameshwara said the government had declared 101 taluks as drought-affected and would continue assessing the situation for another 15 days. More taluks could be added to the drought-hit list based on the assessment, he said.

“We will submit the drought memorandum to the Centre by the end of this month or the first week of September. Crop losses are being assessed and the memorandum will be prepared based on the assessment. Subsequently, Central teams will visit the state to conduct a survey, following which drought relief will be released,” he said.

Parameshwara said providing adequate drinking water, fodder for livestock and employment opportunities to prevent migration would be the government’s top priorities.

“We will decide on the compensation to be provided to farmers per acre. Drinking water, fodder for livestock and taking up works to prevent migration are our first priorities. We have already initiated measures in this regard,” he said.

Recalling the drought in Karnataka in 2023, Parameshwara said the state had suffered losses estimated at Rs 39,000 crore and had submitted a proposal seeking Rs 18,000 crore in relief.

“We went to Delhi and staged a protest. Following the directions of the Supreme Court, Rs 3,500 crore was released. This time, such a situation should not arise,” he said.

Parameshwara said he had already appealed to the Centre to ensure that the previous experience was not repeated and sought immediate release of funds under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

He said the Centre had decided to provide Rs 1,200 crore under the SDRF and urged it to release the amount immediately.

“If the Rs 1,200 crore is released, it will help us provide compensation to farmers. We will distribute the money to farmers within a week or 10 days,” he said, adding that the SDRF contribution would be shared in a 25:75 ratio between the state and Centre.

Responding to questions about B. Nagendra’s resignation, Parameshwara said the former minister had not committed any offence and did not need to step down.

He accused the BJP of politicising the issue and pressuring Nagendra to resign.

“Nagendra has not committed any crime. However, the BJP politicised the issue by demanding his resignation. As a disciplined soldier of the party, Nagendra resigned to ensure that the government was not embarrassed. There was no need for him to resign,” Parameshwara said.

He claimed that Nagendra’s name did not figure in the CBI or ED chargesheets.

“I was the Home Minister and therefore I have information about this. They unnecessarily politicised the issue and forced him to resign. We will explain the facts to the people in the coming days,” he said.

Parameshwara also said the government had told the Opposition that it was ready to answer questions on the issue in the Assembly.

“We had told the Opposition to raise questions legally in the House and said we would provide answers. If they have documents, let them place them before the Assembly. We are capable of responding to them. They did not have any documents and simply politicised the issue,” he claimed.

Asked whether former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had maintained silence on recent developments, Parameshwara dismissed the suggestion.

“Where is he silent? He had come to the Assembly and was present in the House. He will take some rest for a month or two and then resume his activities,” he said.

–IANS

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