Mysuru (Karnataka), Sep 1 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister, G. Parameshwara, on Tuesday visited drought-hit areas in Mysuru district and inspected crop damage in the K.R. Nagar, Hunsur and Varuna Assembly constituencies, assuring farmers that the state Government would discuss and decide on relief measures after completing a comprehensive assessment.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting drought-affected areas at Kattemalalavadi village in Hunsur taluk, Parameshwara said the Karnataka government would review the situation and decide what assistance could be extended to farmers who had suffered crop losses.
“After completing today’s drought inspection, we will discuss the matter with the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and in the Cabinet and decide what assistance can be extended to farmers. If 16,000 hectares have been affected in one taluk alone, the situation is likely to be similar in the six neighbouring taluks as well. We will discuss the issue comprehensively,” he said.
Parameshwara later chaired a progress review meeting at the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat auditorium, where he reviewed the drought situation and sought details from officials on drought management, drinking water availability for people and livestock and employment opportunities.
He said 101 taluks had already been declared drought-affected based on the State’s assessment. However, he clarified that declaration under State norms alone would not make an area eligible for Central relief, as the process had to follow the Union Government’s guidelines.
“We will review the situation again after a week, and any additional areas that meet the prescribed criteria will also be declared drought-affected,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Karnataka would submit a comprehensive drought memorandum to the Centre within two weeks. Central teams would subsequently visit the State to assess the situation, following which relief funds could be released.
He said Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was inspecting drought-hit areas in Gadag, while other Ministers were visiting districts assigned to them. Once the inspections were completed, the government would assess the overall situation and decide on assistance to farmers and measures relating to crop insurance.
Parameshwara said maize crops had been affected by Downy Mildew, which was not currently covered under crop insurance. The government would hold discussions with insurance companies to explore possible measures.
On tobacco crop losses, he said more than 16,000 hectares had been affected in Hunsur taluk alone this season. Since commercial crops were not covered for compensation under the Centre’s norms, the matter would be discussed with the Chief Minister and the Cabinet.
On cloud seeding, Parameshwara said orders had already been issued and technical preparations were underway. He said experts had indicated that the exercise might result in light showers rather than heavy rainfall, but even such rainfall could benefit crops.
He also said weather forecasts suggested that rainfall could largely cease by the first or second week of September and stressed the need to decide on measures to support farmers in the coming days.
Mysuru District In-charge Minister Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Hunsur MLA Harish Gowda, K.R. Nagar MLA Ravishankar, former MLA H.P. Manjunath, Deputy Commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy and senior officials were present.
–IANS
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