Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday thanked the Supreme Court for ordering the release of over Rs 34 lakh relief assistance from the Central government for the Karnataka drought of 2023. He said that this is probably the first time. India has a history of taking a state to the Supreme Court to enforce its rights. “After persistent efforts and appeal to the Supreme Court, we have secured Rs 3,498.82 crore for drought relief from the Central Government. I would like to thank the Honorable Supreme Court.This is perhaps the first time in the history of India that the state had to approach the Supreme Court to enforce its rights, it is regrettable that we have to wait from September 2023 for a response, Siddaramaiah said in a post on Twitter. However, the Chief Minister of Karnataka expressed dissatisfaction over the financial assistance. Saying that the Karnataka government had requested Rs 18,000 crore but received only Rs 3,498.98 crore.
“The Home Minister's office finally woke up after the bell of the Honorable Supreme Court. Finally, some justice has been done to our farmers.However, this approval is extremely inadequate. We had asked for Rs 18,000 crore and we have got Rs 3498.98 crore!” Siddaramaiah added in the post. The Finance Ministry on Friday approved the release of Rs 345422 crore for Karnataka drought relief assistance. Earlier, the Karnataka government had approached the Supreme Court in a petition filed through lawyer D Chidananda. It was urged to take a final decision immediately and direct the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to release financial assistance to the state.The petition states that Karnataka is suffering from severe drought, which is affecting the lives of its citizens. "For the Kharif 2023 season, after meeting all the indicators of the Manual for Drought Management 2020, a total of 223 out of 236 taluks have been declared drought affected." 196 taluks have been classified as severely affected and the remaining 27 as moderately affected in Kharif 2023. Southwest Monsoon (SWM) established over Karnataka coast on 10 June 2023, against the normal onset of 5 June. SWM was gradually affected.After that, the entire state was covered on 24 June, while the normal coverage date was 15 June. Delay in commencement coupled with slow progress of SWM during June resulted in huge depletion in large agricultural lands in Malnad districts and North Interior Karnataka districts. "The plea said. After strictly following the procedure outlined in the Manual for Drought Management-2020, Karnataka has notified 223 out of 236 taluks as drought affected, cumulatively for the Kharif 2023 season, Agricultural and horticultural crop losses have been reported in more than 48 lakh hectares. The petition further said the estimated loss (cost of cultivation) is Rs 35,162 crore, as per the three drought relief memorandums submitted by the state government in September-November 2023. Through this, a demand of Rs 18,171.44 crore has been made under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), i.e. Rs 4663.12.Rs crore for crop loss input subsidy. Rs 12577.9 crore were given for free relief to families whose livelihoods have been seriously affected due to drought, Rs 566.78 crore for drinking water relief and Rs 363.68 crore for cattle care. The petition states that crops have been ruined, domestic, agricultural, industrial-water energy water supply has been affected due to reduced water availability.
“The Home Minister's office finally woke up after the bell of the Honorable Supreme Court. Finally, some justice has been done to our farmers.However, this approval is extremely inadequate. We had asked for Rs 18,000 crore and we have got Rs 3498.98 crore!” Siddaramaiah added in the post. The Finance Ministry on Friday approved the release of Rs 345422 crore for Karnataka drought relief assistance. Earlier, the Karnataka government had approached the Supreme Court in a petition filed through lawyer D Chidananda. It was urged to take a final decision immediately and direct the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to release financial assistance to the state.The petition states that Karnataka is suffering from severe drought, which is affecting the lives of its citizens. "For the Kharif 2023 season, after meeting all the indicators of the Manual for Drought Management 2020, a total of 223 out of 236 taluks have been declared drought affected." 196 taluks have been classified as severely affected and the remaining 27 as moderately affected in Kharif 2023. Southwest Monsoon (SWM) established over Karnataka coast on 10 June 2023, against the normal onset of 5 June. SWM was gradually affected.After that, the entire state was covered on 24 June, while the normal coverage date was 15 June. Delay in commencement coupled with slow progress of SWM during June resulted in huge depletion in large agricultural lands in Malnad districts and North Interior Karnataka districts. "The plea said. After strictly following the procedure outlined in the Manual for Drought Management-2020, Karnataka has notified 223 out of 236 taluks as drought affected, cumulatively for the Kharif 2023 season, Agricultural and horticultural crop losses have been reported in more than 48 lakh hectares. The petition further said the estimated loss (cost of cultivation) is Rs 35,162 crore, as per the three drought relief memorandums submitted by the state government in September-November 2023. Through this, a demand of Rs 18,171.44 crore has been made under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), i.e. Rs 4663.12.Rs crore for crop loss input subsidy. Rs 12577.9 crore were given for free relief to families whose livelihoods have been seriously affected due to drought, Rs 566.78 crore for drinking water relief and Rs 363.68 crore for cattle care. The petition states that crops have been ruined, domestic, agricultural, industrial-water energy water supply has been affected due to reduced water availability.
