114 taluks drought-hit, more in line if dry spell persists: Minister

The State government has declared 16 more taluks drought-hit, taking the total number to 114. Some of the taluks added to the list are in Malnad and coastal districts.

Virajpet in Kodagu, Sakleshpur in Hassan, Sorab in Shivamogga, and Ankola, Haliyal, Mundgod, Sirsi and Yellapur in Uttar Kannada among others are now drought-hit.

Landless, small and marginal farmers in these taluks have been brought under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the government has taken steps to supply drinking water and fodder to livestock, Law Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters here on Monday. Karnataka has already witnessed two dry spells and farmers have suffered losses because of crop failure. If the dry spell continues, more taluks will have to be declared drought-hit, he added.

The government has released Rs 144 crore as calamity relief fund so far. Out of this, Rs 50 crore has been set aside for electrification of drinking water schemes. Borewells are being dug wherever needed and water is being supplied through tankers, according to Jayachandra. The cause for concern, however, is that despite good rainfall in the last two years, lakes and tanks haven’t filled up, resulting in depletion of ground water.

To deal with shortage of fodder, the government has distributed mini kits consisting of hybrid seeds. Besides, it has sought an additional Rs 10 crore from the Centre under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for providing fodder to livestock, the minister said.