The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to declare drought in affected taluks and take relief measures on a war footing. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R.
Ashok has written to the Chief Minister, expressing concern that the drought situation is intensifying in the State. He stated that about 150 taluks have been gripped by drought due to inadequate rainfall under the southwest monsoon, and storage levels in reservoirs are continuously declining. Mr. Ashok has urged the Chief Minister to direct all district in-charge Ministers and in-charge Secretaries to immediately convene district-level drought review meetings and conduct weekly progress reviews. He also demanded that the government announce a State-wide emergency plan and formulate a comprehensive contingency plan for alternative drought-resistant short-term crops, sowing advice, seeds, fodder, livestock protection, drinking water supply, and emergency employment generation.
The BJP leader asked the government to identify villages that are likely to face drinking water shortages immediately and release emergency funds. He also urged the government to begin a scientific survey of crop losses and provide interim relief to farmers, besides crop insurance, and necessary agricultural inputs without delay. Mr. Ashok criticized the government, stating that most district in-charge Ministers have neither convened comprehensive review meetings on the drought situation in their districts nor visited the taluks. He also pointed out that the Agriculture Department is functioning without a full-time Minister, which raises questions about the administration’s priorities. Mr. Ashok further stated that while sowing has declined and delayed, crops already sown are drying up owing to a lack of moisture, directly impacting agricultural production and employment.
He noted that agricultural labourers are migrating to cities and neighbouring States.
