Overview
- Three Inter‑Ministerial Central Teams arrived for a three‑day field assessment on Saturday to verify Karnataka’s drought claims and submit an objective report before the Centre decides on NDRF/SDRF releases.
- Karnataka has formally sought ₹7,142.64 crore in two memorandums and reports crop and allied losses of about ₹46,324.5 crore across 177 taluks, with the state warning total losses could rise to ₹50,000–₹60,000 crore once remaining assessments are complete.
- The state has declared 217 of 240 taluks drought‑hit, is ground‑truthing losses in about 40 more taluks and will check 22 taluks not yet classified before submitting a final consolidated memorandum.
- Officials say urgent needs include drinking water, fodder and livelihood support, and the government is running emergency water operations with tankers and hired borewells while offering a limited interim ₹2,500 payment to farmers.
- Political pressure is intensifying: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release ₹3,705.30 crore immediately and to send a separate team for Kalyana‑Karnataka, but the Centre’s formal decision awaits the IMCTs’ consolidated findings.