Drought hits Karnataka

After fertilizer scarcity, it is the turn of drought to hit Karnataka soon after the Yeddyurappa-led BJP Government assumed office in the State.

With the state recording a deficit rainfall during the month of June and first week of July, the Drought Monitoring Cell of the State has declared Karnataka drought-hit and urged the State Government to chalk out a plan of action to come to the aid of farmers, who are already grappling with fertilizer shortage.

The failure of monsoon, which was scheduled to set in during early June, has been attributed to the deficit rainfall recorded in the State.

A drought situation has returned to the state after a gap of four years when Karnataka received bountiful rains leading to filling up of reservoirs.

Director of the Drought Monitoring Cell in the State V S Prakash said the state has received only 195 mm of rainfall from June 1 to July 7 against the normal 250 mm. “The state has recorded a deficit rainfall of 23 per cent during the period, leading to widespread crop failure in state”, he said.

South interior and north interior Karnataka have been the worst hit while coastal Karnataka and Malnad have managed to receive scanty rainfall, he said.

As many as 110 out of the 175 taluks in Karnataka are reported to be reeling under drought with failure of crops reported from Gulbarga, Bellary, Bagalkot, Raichur, Dharwad, Belgaum, Tumkur and Haveri districts.

Meanwhile, a detailed meeting to study the drought scenario in the state was convened in Bangalore by Development Commissioner Shanthakumari. The meeting took stock of the situation and directed officials to prepare an estimate of the number of farmers, who will be affected by the drought in the state.
Prakash said the State Government will soon submit a memorandum to the Federal Government seeking financial assistance under the calamity relief fund to take up relief measures. The Government will have to focus on providing employment to the farmers, who have lost their crop, besides tackling the water and food grain shortage.