Karnataka has declared nine more taluks drought-hit, raising the total number of affected taluks in the state to 226, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara announced. This expansion will be part of the state’s final drought loss assessment and its request for financial aid from the Centre.
Parameshwara noted that 14 taluks remain under review for eligibility. If they meet the drought declaration criteria, ground-level inspections will be conducted before a decision is finalized.
The government is preparing a comprehensive loss memorandum to submit to the Centre, expected to be completed next week. Compensation will be calculated according to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines.
Last year, Karnataka sought about ₹18,000 crore in drought compensation. This year’s losses span the entire state, and the compensation request may increase if more taluks qualify. The state has requested that the Centre relax NDRF guidelines on drought compensation. A response from the Union Agriculture Minister indicated the matter is under consideration.
Following the final assessment, Karnataka may send a delegation to Delhi to present its compensation claim. The list of nine newly declared taluks has not yet been made public.
