Shivakumar Seeks Rs 3,705 Cr Drought Relief From Union Govt

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday sought Rs 3,705.30 crore in drought relief from the Centre under NDRF norms, saying the difficult situation had caused distress among farmers and the general public. 

Shivakumar made the demand during a meeting here with the Central Inter-Ministerial Drought Assessment Team, headed by Ajit Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary in the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry.

The team is visiting the state for a three-day assessment of the



drought situation. "Karnataka is facing a severe drought situation, and farmers and the general public are facing great hardship. 

Provide Rs 3,705.30 crore in drought relief to the state as per National Disaster Response Force norms," Shivakumar urged the team, according to a press release. 

He said 217 of Karnataka's 240 taluks had been declared drought-hit following a scientific assessment carried out in accordance with the Centre's disaster management guidelines.