Central team to submit drought report on State in 12 days

A Central team that had assessed drought situation in Karnataka in August-September is likely to submit a final report to the Union government within 12 days.

“We have covered 19 districts. Most crops including tur, onion and cotton have been affected. We have done the assessment and will submit a final report in the next 12 days,” Joint Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry R B Sinha told reporters. Noting that irrigated crops have also been affected due to lack of power supply, Sinha said, “The State, which depends 70 per cent on hydropower, has been able to generate just 400 MW against the installed capacity of 3,500 MW due to deficient rains.”

Coarse cereals like ragi, jowar, bajra, pulses like tur and cash crops such as cotton have been stunted and yields have been affected, the official said. Initially, the State received good monsoon. But rains weakened during July-August, the crucial period for crop growth and grain formation. For instance in Vijayapura, rainfall deficiency was 60 per cent in July and 73 per cent in August, he added.

Sinha, who headed the Central drought team, however, noted that the recent spell of rains in north interior parts of Karnataka has improved soil moisture and will boost early sowing of rabi (winter) crops.

Earlier in the day, the Karnataka government sought Rs 3,850 crore from the Centre for taking up relief programmes in the drought-hit areas of the State. Submitting a memorandum to Union Minster of State for Agriculture Mohanbhai Kundariya, Karnataka Revenue Minister V Srinivas Prasad and Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said in 2015 total 136 taluks have been declared drought-hit and more then 30 lakh hectares of agriculture and horticulture crops have been affected and the total loss is estimated at Rs 15, 636 crore.

Of the targeted 73 lakh hectares of sowing area this Kharif, only 60 lakh hectares have been sown. While North Karnataka faced with 32 per cent deficiency in rainfall, several parts of the State are witnessing severe drinking water scarcity.