Now Reading: Karnataka cabinet to discuss drought, crop loss on Thursday: Priyank Kharge
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Karnataka cabinet to discuss drought, crop loss on Thursday: Priyank Kharge
Karnataka cabinet to discuss drought, crop loss on Thursday: Priyank Kharge
Karnataka's cabinet will discuss the drought situation and crop losses on Thursday, said Home Minister Priyank Kharge. The state has recorded a 75% rainfall deficit due to 'Super El Niño', with crops…
The Story in Brief
Karnataka's cabinet will discuss the drought situation and crop losses on Thursday, said Home Minister Priyank Kharge. The state has recorded a 75% rainfall deficit due to 'Super El Niño', with crops withering across rain-deficient areas. Kharge, who inspected damaged fields in Kalaburagi, noted that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has sought the Centre's relaxation of NDRF norms for farmer compensation. The district received ₹650 crore in relief last year; this year, 4.5 lakh farmers have enrolled in the crop insurance scheme. However, 20% of gram panchayats did not receive adequate compensation last year, Kharge admitted, while claiming ₹1 crore has been allocated per constituency for drinking water.
The Indian Opinion
The state government's blame on 'Super El Niño' deflects from its own drought preparedness failures. Karnataka has faced repeated dry spells, yet relief fund utilisation remains sluggish. The real test is whether the cabinet will announce specific compensation per acre, not just discuss the problem. Farmers like Vimalabai, who lost ₹50,000 on black gram, need immediate cash transfers, not more committee reports. The Centre's NDRF norms are strict, but has the state sought relaxations proactively? A concrete timeline for relief disbursement will separate rhetoric from action.
Source: thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
