Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah appeals for ₹4,860 crore compensation over drought, says actual loss is over ₹30,000 crore

CM Siddaramaiah said he appealed for a compensation of ₹4,860 crore from the centre, but that the actual loss incurred by the drought is over ₹30,000 crore.

Published on: Oct 7, 2023, 15:30:41 IST

By Yamini C S

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said he has appealed for a compensation of ₹4860 crore from the central leadership amid a drought-like situation in several districts, however estimating the actual loss incurred by the state to be over ₹30,000 crore.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. (PTI) (HT_PRINT)

This comes in the backdrop of the raging Cauvery river water sharing dispute with neighbouring state Tamil Nadu. The CM spoke to reporters after the inauguration of the 100th year anniversary celebrations of Babbur Farms, Millets Mela and Symposium on Horticultural crops at the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agriculture and Horticulture Sciences in Chitradurga.

ALSO READ | CM Siddaramaiah briefs central team, says Karnataka facing ‘green drought’

"Crops were sown in an area of 80 lakh hectares and 42 lakh hectares of crops have been damaged. Hence the state and the farmers are in trouble. Although we have appealed to the centre for compensation of 4860 crores, the amount of loss we have incurred is more than 30,000 crores. All this is being reviewed by the Central Drought Study Team. Chitradurga is a drought-prone district and is affected even more. Whatever the compensation provided by the Central Government, our Government is committed to ensuring that our people, farmers and livestock are not troubled," Siddaramaiah told news agency ANI.

"There is no price for the crop. Heavy rains, scanty rains and droughts are affecting the farmers. Therefore, pro-farmer research should be carried out in accordance with the changed environment. All the taluks of Chitradurga district are affected by drought," he added.

ALSO READ | Three teams from Centre to visit Karnataka today to assess drought situation

"Research should be increased in agriculture and horticulture universities. In the backdrop of climate change, a study must be conducted regarding crops that are feasible and which will benefit the farmers. It does not matter how many graduates come out of agricultural universities. It is important as to how many varieties have been developed," He further stated.

ALSO READ | ‘Heartening’: Karnataka DCM DK Shivakumar on CWRC's decision over Cauvery water release to TN

The Congress stalwart also assured that the Government is committed to providing all assistance in the matter, especially for research in the agriculture sector.

(With inputs from ANI)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

Get the latest City News, local updates, weather alerts and breaking stories from Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other major cities across India on Hindustan Times.