Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday, 7 October announced that the state government would release ₹2,500 per farmer as a first instalment of drought relief from its own resources, refusing to wait for Central funds that have yet to arrive. The announcement came after Parameshwara visited drought-hit areas in Ballari district, including a tur field at Halakundi village, and underscores the severity of what officials are describing as one of Karnataka's worst droughts in nearly 75 years.

Scale of the Crisis

Of Karnataka's nearly 240 taluks, 217 have already been officially declared drought-affected. Ground-truthing is underway in the remaining 23 taluks, with Parameshwara saying that 10 to 15 more are likely to be added to the list. According to the Deputy Chief Minister, nearly 90 per cent of crops across the state have been affected — and crucially, the damage is not confined to rain-fed farmland. Irrigated regions are facing difficulties as well.

The situation is described as particularly acute in Ballari, Vijayanagara, and neighbouring districts. Farmers in several areas initially sowed tur, only to see the crop fail due to insufficient rainfall. When rains arrived belatedly, they switched to alternative crops such as jowar — but those also failed, leaving many households with no harvest at all.

Why the State Is Not Waiting for the Centre

The Karnataka government has submitted two memoranda to the Union Government covering 177 taluks, estimating total crop and drought-related losses at approximately ₹46,000 crore. Based on permissible relief under National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines — which provide ₹8,500 per hectare — the state has sought between ₹11,000 crore and ₹11,500 crore from the Centre. That request has so far gone unanswered.

'We will not simply sit and blame the Centre for not releasing even a single rupee,' Parameshwara said. A Government Order has already been issued directing Deputy Commissioners to begin disbursing the ₹2,500 instalment immediately. Further assistance, he added, would follow in the coming days.

This is not the first time Karnataka has faced this impasse. During the 2023 drought, the state recorded losses of around ₹49,000 crore and sought roughly ₹18,000 crore from the Centre. After receiving nothing initially, the state approached the courts, following which approximately ₹3,500 crore was released pursuant to court directions — a fraction of what was sought.

Drinking Water and Immediate Relief Measures

The drought has compounded pressure on drinking water supply, with several villages facing shortages. Parameshwara said funds have already been released for urgent relief measures including water supply, and Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to deploy these resources without delay. Three Central teams have visited drought-affected areas in Karnataka and conducted sample inspections. The Centre also has access to satellite-based crop and drought data, Parameshwara noted.

Loan Deferment for Distressed Farmers

On the question of farm loans, the state has directed both nationalised and private financial institutions to defer loan recovery and explore restructuring and refinancing options. Parameshwara assured farmers that they need not act on any bank notices received during this period. Demands for full farm-loan waivers and interest relief will be reviewed separately in the coming days.

'Right now, the farmer is our priority,' Parameshwara said, adding that other developmental works could be deferred if needed. The state government's next step will be to finalise additional relief tranches as the ground-truthing exercise in the remaining taluks concludes.