State to seek Rs 3,589 cr drought relief

Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad on Friday said the total loss due to a drought-like situation prevailing in several taluks in the State had reached Rs 3,589 crore.

He told reporters he would meet the four teams sent by the Centre on Saturday in Bengaluru. The government would submit a report on the loss of Rs 3,589 crore.

A request would be made to immediately release Rs 779 crore under the National Disaster Response Force. Prasad said he would request the Union minister for agriculture to sanction maximum assistance under the NDRF.

In 2013-14, Karnataka sought Rs 1,014.15 crore for drought relief, but the Centre released only Rs 169 crore. For flood relief, the State sought Rs 610 crore but the Centre released Rs 73.53 crore. The Centre is yet to respond to request for Rs 320 crore relief for five districts which faced natural vagaries.