Bengaluru, September 17 (Daily Kiran) : The Karnataka government has officially declared 23 additional taluks as drought-affected, raising the total number to 124. This announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara on September 17.
During the second phase of drought assessment, Parameshwara stated that the government is continuously evaluating the impact of below-average rainfall during the southwest monsoon using scientific methods. Steps are being taken in a phased manner to alleviate the difficulties faced by farmers.
In the first phase, the government conducted ground-level inspections in 102 taluks, designating 101 as drought-affected. Among these, 89 were classified as severely affected, while 12 were moderately affected.
Now, in the second phase, 23 more taluks have been declared drought-affected. Of these, 21 have been categorized as severely affected, and two as moderately affected. The severely affected taluks include Tipatur, Karatagi, Manvi, Sindhanur, Sirwar, Afzalpur, Aland, Chittapur, Kalaburagi, Yadrami, Shahabad, Bhalki, Basavanbagwadi, Bableeshwar, Tikota, Ruttihalli, Hubli, Navalgund, Hubli City, Annagiri, and Kadur. Ponnampet and Virajpet fall into the moderately affected category.
Parameshwara noted that the assessment is based on rainfall data from June 1 to September 16, soil moisture levels, crop conditions, and other scientific criteria. A third phase of ground-truthing has been initiated, selecting 53 taluks across 17 districts for further investigation.
To ensure accuracy and transparency in the assessment, the government is utilizing the ‘Crop Loss GT’ mobile app. This app allows for the recording of geo-tagged photographs, GPS information, agricultural land details, and crop loss data directly at the field level.
Teams of officials are scheduled to visit the selected villages on September 19 and 20 to conduct direct assessments of crop losses. Deputy commissioners and relevant authorities have been instructed to submit their final reports by September 21.
Parameshwara emphasized the importance of accurately documenting the real extent of farmers’ difficulties. He stated that the government’s goal is to ensure no farmer is overlooked in the assessment process. Future actions will depend on scientific evaluations, transparent surveys, and precise reporting. He assured that the situation will be monitored until the end of the southwest monsoon season, and additional taluks may be included in subsequent assessments if necessary.
The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that addressing farmers’ challenges is the government’s top priority. He also affirmed the government’s commitment to providing necessary assistance based on the actual level of crop loss.
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