Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Sep 26: Karnataka will provide an immediate Rs 2,500 input subsidy to each drought-hit farmer, with further relief to be decided based on assistance from the Centre, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said on Friday.
The first phase of the relief is expected to benefit around 45 to 50 lac farmers and will cost the State exchequer approximately Rs 1,250 crore, he said.
Responding to criticism that the relief was inadequate, Parameshwara said, “Although assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) from the Central government is yet to arrive, our government is providing immediate relief considering the difficulties faced by farmers.”
Speaking to reporters here, he said subsequent relief measures would be decided based on the assistance received from the Centre, adding that it was not possible at this stage to give any assurance about a revised relief amount.
“The first-phase assistance of Rs 1,250 crore is not a small amount. Further measures will be taken in the coming days based on the relief received from the Central government,” he said, accusing the Opposition of “doing politics” by criticising the relief package as inadequate.
Parameshwara said the total losses caused by the drought in the State could exceed Rs 40,000 crore. Karnataka had already submitted its first memorandum to the Centre seeking assistance and would send additional memoranda in the coming days, he said.
After the final assessment of losses is prepared, the State will submit its demand for assistance under the NDRF guidelines, he added.
The deputy chief minister said the state government was already extending various forms of support to farmers, including around Rs 22,000 crore in electricity subsidy to provide free power to agricultural pump sets.
He said the Centre had written to the State about sending a team, including an IAS officer, to assess the drought situation. The date of the team's visit had not yet been finalised, he said.
Once the Central team assesses the drought situation and losses in accordance with its guidelines, greater clarity would emerge on the extent of further assistance, Parameshwara said.
All-party delegation to Delhi
On the proposal to take an all-party delegation to Delhi over drought relief, Parameshwara said the chief minister had already clarified the matter in the Legislative Assembly.
“An all-party meeting will be held, everyone will be taken into confidence and the delegation will be taken to New Delhi,” he said.
The delegation would meet the Prime Minister, union home minister and union agriculture minister to explain Karnataka's drought situation and the difficulties faced by farmers, he said.
“If Opposition members wish to join, the government is ready to take them along as well,” Parameshwara said, adding that the date for the proposed visit had not yet been finalised.