Karnataka CM Shivakumar Vows to Review All Genuine Drought-Hit Areas as State Grapples with Rainfall Deficit

CM Assures Comprehensive Review of Drought-Affected Areas

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the state government would examine all areas facing genuine drought conditions, assuring that there was no need for people to be anxious over the ongoing assessment. Speaking ahead of his visit to drought-hit regions, Shivakumar said, "We have already announced 101 taluks as drought-affected. The routing is also going on everywhere. Our Revenue Minister has already announced 102 taluks. Many more taluks have undergone routing. I take reports every week, every 15 days, and do it."

The CM's remarks came days after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G Parameshwara said the state was facing an unprecedented drought, with the government earmarking Rs 635 crore to manage the crisis. Parameshwara had said Karnataka received only 465 mm of rainfall between June 1 and August 26 against the normal 666 mm, recording a 30 per cent deficit. According to Parameshwara, 134 taluks had experienced dry spells of more than three consecutive weeks and qualified for assessment under Trigger-1. Following ground-truthing, 101 taluks had qualified to be declared drought-affected, while 32 other taluks were under review.

Addressing Technical Lapses and Central Guidelines

Shivakumar said all precautions will be taken to avoid technical lapses in the drought declaration process so that Karnataka's case can be presented effectively before the central team that is set to arrive to assess the situation. "When the Central team visits, we have to defend our case with proper evidence. There should be no technical errors. Therefore, we are conducting a comprehensive assessment," he said. Reports are being sought from officials after lapses were detected in several affected districts, including Dharwad and Gadag.

The CM noted that several areas in Dharwad and Gadag had provided sufficient information regarding the drought situation and that he would visit the affected regions. "In Dharwad and Gadag, in many places, regarding the drought issue, they were informing us by giving us sufficient information about it. That is why I myself am also heading there. I am going to Bagalkot tomorrow," he said. The CM also mentioned that his own Kanakapura constituency has not been declared drought-hit as it does not meet certain criteria. "There is no need for anyone to be anxious. Whichever taluk, whichever district, wherever there is genuinely a drought situation, we will examine all of that. Even my Taluk Kanakapura also has not done. Can I break my head over it? There is a rule for that. There is a Central Government rule," Shivakumar added.

The state government has said the drought assessment would be reviewed every 15 days, with a central team expected to visit the state to assess the situation. During his visit to farmers' fields in Kadampur village of Gadag district, Shivakumar assured that the state was reviewing the drought situation and would submit a report to the central government after studying the affected areas. "We have already declared 102 taluks as drought-affected. Surveys are still underway in several other taluks. We need to get the reports within a week or 15 days and make a decision accordingly," he said. Farmers in Kadampur appealed to the CM to declare the remaining six taluks in Gadag as drought-affected.

Opposition Criticism and Political Reactions

Karnataka Leader of Opposition R Ashoka has criticised the state government's drought assessment, saying around 170 taluks should be declared drought-affected, not 101. The CM's statements came as the BJP's 10-day padayatra, led by state president BY Vijayendra, scheduled from September 1 to September 10, began on Tuesday. Shivakumar said the Congress was prepared to respond to the BJP's padayatra.

The CM also addressed the Lalbagh land controversy, promising to protect the park and its land, and criticised the BJP for not creating parks like Lalbagh during its tenure. Reacting to the FIR registered against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shivakumar termed it a politically motivated action. "What wrong has Rahul Gandhi done? It is his right to fight for the youth and the country. It is a right guaranteed by the Constitution. We all stand with him," he said.

In a separate development, Congress MLA B Devendrappa has threatened to resign from the Assembly if Jagalur taluk in Davanagere district is not included in the government's official list of drought-hit taluks.