Karnataka: 23 rain-deficit districts declared drought-hit; ₹8,000 cr crop loss

Of the 30 districts across Karnataka, 23 districts have been declared drought-hit due to deficit rainfall in the monsoon season, an official said on Wednesday.

"Though the monsoon (June-September) was near normal in coastal, south interior and Malnad regions with record rainfall causing floods in seven districts, deficit-rains forced the state government to declare 23 districts drought-hit," said an official after a review meeting.

According to the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) data, the cumulative seasonal rainfall across the southern state was minus 2% from June 1 to September 12, with coastal areas recording 3% above normal, and south interior region 7 per cent above normal, while north interior area posted 26 per cent deficit.

"A cabinet sub-committee on disaster management had identified 86 taluks (sub-districts) in the state's erstwhile Bombay province in northwest and the Hyderabad-Karnataka region in the northern region due to dry weather," said the official, citing a report its chairman and State Revenue Minister RV Deshpande submitted to the Chief Minister's office on Tuesday.

As per the revised guidelines, a taluk can be declared drought-hit with a 60 per cent rain deficit or a dry spell of three weeks with 33 per cent crop loss.

The state departments concerned, including agriculture, horticulture and sericulture will conduct a joint survey of the drought-hit districts and submit a report to the central government for grants from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF).

"Two central teams are touring seven flood-hit districts, including Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru for spot assessment of the damage to life and property caused by heavy rains," added the official.

The state government will also request the central government to rush another team to assess the damage caused by drought in the 23 districts.