Three teams from Union government will visit Karnataka to assess the drought situation across the state following a request from state government, deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said on Monday.
Parameshwara said one team would cover Tumakuru, Chitradurga and Davanagere, another would visit districts in north Karnataka, while the third would assess the Mysuru region, including Mandya, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar.
He also renewed the state government’s appeal for an all party delegation to approach the Centre for drought relief, saying the issue concerned the entire state. “Drought is not an issue of any one political party. Natural calamities do not have any party difference. “The BJP is in power at the Centre. If they come with us, it will be more helpful in convincing the central government. He added that the state government would continue to take up the issue even if the BJP leaders stayed away.
The state government has estimated crop and economic losses at around ₹ 18,000 crore in the initial 101 drought affected taluks and has sought ₹ 3,705.30 crore from the Centre for immediate relief measures.
The CM has said an all party delegation should be taken to the Centre with the intention of getting more assistance by making a united appeal on behalf of Karnataka,” he said. Responding to BJP leaders saying they would not join the delegation, Parameshwara said their participation would help the state government make its case before the Union government. That is the intention of the state government,” he said. “Even if they do not come, as the government, we will discharge our responsibility of bringing the issue to the attention of the Centre in the interest of the state,” he said. The deputy CM said the government would not step back from its responsibility if the Centre did not respond to another request for drought assistance. “If the Centre clearly says that it will not provide relief, a situation should not arise where the state government has to approach the Supreme Court again as it did last year. The Centre and those concerned should not create such a situation,” he said.
Chief minister DK Shivakumar has also sought the release of 50% of the memorandum amount as interim assistance, citing the worsening drought situation. Further memorandums are expected as ground assessments are completed.
