Hariprasad seeks release of drought funds to state

Congress MP B K Hariprasad on Monday raised Karnataka’s drought situation in the Rajya Sabha, seeking immediate release of Rs 1,782 crore sanctioned by the Centre.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Hariprasad said the drought situation in the state is “serious”, as it is the sixth consecutive year Karnataka is facing such a scenario.

Noting that the state has raised a demand for Rs 4,702 crore for drought relief, he said the high-powered committee had cleared Rs 1,782 crore to the state. However, this money is yet to be released, he said. He said kharif and rabi crops in the state have failed and 136 taluks have been declared drought-hit.

The northeast monsoon has also failed and there is 71% deficiency of rainfall. This is the worst drought in the past 45 years. "The state government has taken some emergency steps. That is commendable and swift. The Centre should immediately release the money cleared by the high-powered committee," he said.

A high-powered committee chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh had in January allocated Rs 1,782.44 crore as Central assistance to Karnataka. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had earlier demanded a Rs 5,064-crore relief package from the Centre to tide over the challenges posed by crop loss due to drought in most parts of the state and excess rains in three Hyderabad-Karnataka districts.

Karnataka was the first state this year to declare drought. The state's deficiency of rain due to the northeast monsoon from October 1 till date is 71% and the state government has already declared 139 taluks drought-hit.