Kharge seeks Centre’s help over Karnataka’s possible worst drought in 150 years

Kharge writes to PM and HM

Karnataka is staring at what could perhaps be the worst drought in 150 years, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has said in a letter seeking the Centre’s intervention.

Mr. Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking help for the drought-affected State.

He said that facing such a drought would be impossible without adequate assistance from the Centre.

Focus on farmers and dry regions

Mr. Kharge made specific requests for support, including a focus on the State’s small and marginal farmers.

He also sought attention for the dry Hyderabad-Karnataka belt, which he identified among the areas requiring focus.

Mr. Kharge asked the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to calculate input subsidy using Karnataka’s updated Bhoomi land records.

He opposed the use of the outdated 2015-16 Agriculture Census for this calculation.

According to his request, using updated land records would help ensure that no genuinely eligible farmer is excluded from the subsidy.

Drinking water and power support

Mr. Kharge also sought enhanced support for drinking water security and for the cost of substitute power.

He linked the request to historically low reservoir levels in the Cauvery and hydel catchments.

“Provide enhanced support for drinking water security and the cost of substitute power, particularly in view of historically low reservoir levels in the Cauvery and hydel catchments,” he further said.

Source: The Hindu