Bengaluru, September 23 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting the immediate release of 50% of the drought relief funds as the state’s drought situation worsens. In a letter addressed to Modi, Shivakumar highlighted that the state government initially sought ₹3,705.30 crore for immediate relief efforts across 101 taluks declared drought-affected for the Kharif season of 2026.
The severity of the drought has escalated since that initial request. Based on a scientific assessment, the Karnataka government has now declared an additional 76 taluks as drought-affected, bringing the total to 177. Shivakumar noted that by the end of the 2026 southwest monsoon season, over 200 taluks could be affected.
Officials are currently assessing the damage in the newly declared drought-hit areas. Once this evaluation is complete, the state government plans to submit an additional memorandum to seek financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Shivakumar emphasized the critical role of the southwest monsoon for Karnataka, stating that the rains between June and August are vital for Kharif crops, reservoir replenishment, hydroelectric power generation, livestock feed availability, and groundwater recharge. Unfortunately, the current monsoon has brought significant rainfall deficits, impacting all these sectors.
He expressed concern over the declining water levels in reservoirs, particularly in the Cauvery basin, which could affect drinking water availability for Bengaluru and surrounding districts in the coming months. As the monsoon approaches its final phase, Shivakumar warned that the rainfall deficit could worsen, exacerbating drought conditions in the upcoming months.
The chief minister pointed out that ongoing low rainfall and reduced soil moisture could lead to significant crop losses, potentially affecting over 4 million hectares of farmland. He proposed a visit from a central inter-ministerial team to assess the damage on-site.
The central team’s findings will first be presented to the National Executive Committee’s sub-committee before being reviewed by a high-level committee for recommendations. However, Shivakumar cautioned that this assessment and approval process could take considerable time, while the drought situation continues to deteriorate rapidly.
In light of the severity of the drought, he urged the central government to release 50% of the requested funds as interim financial assistance before the formal assessment and approval process is completed. Timely aid would enable the state government to initiate and sustain relief efforts, particularly for crop loss subsidies, drinking water supply, livestock protection, and other essential drought-related activities.
Additionally, Shivakumar requested the early release of the central share in the second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund, which would enhance the financial resources available to the state government for timely relief operations in affected areas.
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