From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Dec 19: With as many as 139 out of the 176 taluks in 29 districts of Karnataka declared drought affected, the State Government has estimated the total loss to be of the order of R 25,000 crore this year.
In addition, Karnataka also suffered loss to the tune of Rs 386 crore due to floods and heavy downpours in several parts.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the State Government can seek Central relief to the tune of Rs 4,702 crore under the norms.
"We have sought relief from the central government. Other than that, the State Government has also released money for drought relief," he said.
Karnataka is reeling under successive years of drought and the state government has already declared 139 taluks in 29 districts as drought-hit.
Stating that several measures have been taken by the government to tackle the situation, Siddaramaiah said District Deputy Commissioners have been directed to take measures in providing drinking water, fodder for cattle and jobs for the needy.
He said that to monitor the measures being undertaken, four cabinet sub-committees had been constituted, which have been directed to visit every district.
The government had on December 6 formed four cabinet sub-committees to study and conduct review of relief works being undertaken in the drought-affected areas of the state.
The committees, one each for revenue divisions of Bengaluru, Kalburgi, Belagavi and Mysuru, has four to five ministers as its members and Secretaries or Principal Secretaries of Agriculture, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Water Resources and Revenue Department as coordination officers.
The State Government has requested the Centre to provide Rs 4,702.54 crore for drought relief measures, following which a team of officials had visited the affected areas. ``This is the total amount we are entitled to seek as Central assistance,’’ he said.
The state government had earlier said that it released Rs 60 lakh each to drought-affected Assembly constituencies for immediate relief measures.