PM to review Karnataka drought tomorrow

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to review the drought and water scarcity in the state on Saturday.

Modi also invited Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akilesh Yadav and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the drought situation in their states. The chief ministers will meet the prime minister separately, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Union ministers from Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Rural Development and officials of these ministries will be present in the meeting. Apart from taking stock of the situation, Modi will also review steps taken by the states to address drought-related problems.

As the Centre is keen to help the states tackle the problems, the prime minister decided to personally review the situation. If the situation is found to be grave, the Centre will sanction more funds to the states, sources said.

The Union government has already sanctioned Rs 723.23 crore to Karnataka as compensation for the failure of rabi crops and to provide drinking water. Earlier, it had released Rs 1,540 crore for the failure of kharif crops.

The Opposition BJP in Karnataka had alleged that despite the Centre releasing the funds, the state government was not distributing it to farmers properly.

Dismissing the allegations, the chief minister said all the money had been distributed to farmers and the Centre should provide more funds to the state.