Karnataka is preparing to declare 24 more taluks as drought-hit, taking the total number of affected taluks to between 180 and 200 by the end of September, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre said on Saturday. The proposed expansion follows reduced rainfall in the state and comes as the government seeks ₹2,600 crore from the Centre for relief measures in the 101 taluks already declared drought-affected.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Khandre said preparations were under way to notify the additional taluks. He said the state could have 180 to 200 drought-hit taluks by the end of the month, depending on the assessment of rainfall, crop conditions and other factors.
Khandre attributed the decline in rainfall this year to the impact of El Niño. He said 101 taluks had already been declared drought-hit and that relief operations had begun in those areas. The proposed declarations would expand the geographical coverage of the state’s drought-response measures.
The minister said the issue had been discussed at a meeting of a cabinet subcommittee formed to review the southwest monsoon, drought conditions and other natural disasters. The subcommittee, chaired by Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara, is responsible for examining the situation and recommending policy and administrative measures. Khandre is also a member of the panel.
According to Khandre, compensation from the National Disaster Response Fund is available for both rain-fed and irrigated agricultural land. He added that the state was also considering additional assistance for areas where crop damage had been severe. Any decision on such additional compensation would be taken by the chief minister, he said.
The state government has estimated that ₹2,600 crore is required to undertake relief measures in the 101 taluks already notified as drought-hit. The amount is being sought from the Centre under the disaster-response framework. The minister did not provide a separate financial estimate for the 24 additional taluks proposed for declaration.
The declaration of a taluk as drought-hit enables the government to formally assess agricultural damage and initiate relief measures under applicable disaster-management provisions. It also provides the basis for seeking central assistance, although the release and amount of such assistance depend on assessment and approval processes.
Khandre also urged Karnataka’s BJP members of Parliament and party leaders to press the Centre for funds to support farmers affected by the drought. His remarks included criticism of opposition leaders’ public activities, but no response from the BJP or the Union government was provided in the report.
The next step is the formal notification of the additional 24 taluks. The cabinet subcommittee’s ongoing review and the chief minister’s decision on additional compensation will determine how the state’s drought-relief programme is expanded.
