Overview
- Karnataka has formally written to the Union government requesting a calamity-of-national-significance tag and relaxation of the Centre’s drought norms to secure extra funding and faster relief.
- Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has called the situation “extremely serious,” saying the state faces its worst drought in about 150 years and that sowing so far is below 40 percent.
- The state has launched immediate measures including Rs 1 crore for each MLA, Rs 5 crore per district, Rs 329 crore in PD accounts, directives to drill borewells and provide pumps and power, and a push to enroll farmers in crop insurance.
- Karnataka is conducting taluk-level ground-truthing and division-wise reviews that will feed a formal drought decision to be considered after August 15, with a Bengaluru-division review scheduled later this month.
- Officials warn of rising migration pressures and fodder shortages for cattle and sheep, and say neighbouring states are also reporting drought stress, which they argue strengthens the case for coordinated national assistance.