Karnataka govt seeks immediate release of Rs 2,434 crore from NDRF as relief for farmers affected by drought, loss of crops

Bengaluru: In the face of severe drought and crop loss due to floods in large parts of the state, the Karnataka government on Monday sought immediate release of Rs 2,434 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund for affected farmers. A month after chief minister HD Kumaraswamy approached the centre seeking financial aid, Karnataka revenue minister RV Deshpande wrote to the Union Home minister Rajnath Singh and Union Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh. [caption id=“attachment_4277267” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] Highlighting the grim situation, Deshpande said about 80 percent of the state, comprising 145 taluk, were either affected by drought or flood. These natural disaster have badly impacted the states’ economy with a cumulative loss of more than Rs 20,000 crore, Deshpande said. “I request you to kindly consider and expeditiously release the requested financial assistance of Rs 2434 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to provide timely relief for aggrieved farmers,” the minister said. Deshpande also said the state economy was having financial implications of the crop loan waiver of more than Rs 48,000 to assist the small and marginal farmers facing frequent drought.