Number of drought-hit taluks may go up to 150

Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad has said that the number of drought-hit taluks in the State may go up from the present 126 to 150 shortly.

Addressing mediapersons here on Wednesday the minister said that the Cabinet sub-committee on drought relief had held meetings at Bengaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Mysuru, to assess the extent of drought. “Out of 44 taluks in Mysuru region, 23 have been temporarily declared drought-hit. More affected taluks would be included in the list shortly.

No taluk under Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have been included in the list,” he said.
While farmers are suffering due to crop loss in parts of the State, in some parts farmers could not even sow due to failure of monsoon. People in Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Koppal and Raichur districts are facing severe scarcity of drinking water. The loss due to drought is estimated to be Rs 12,000 crore. The Centre has been appealed for Rs 3,500 crore relief. The Centre is expected to release relief funds after its team visits the State in the first week of September to assess the extent of drought, Prasad said.