Kharge writes to PM, HM over severe drought in Karnataka
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah seeking central intervention to address Karnataka's severe drought crisis. In his letter, Kharge stated that the state is facing what could be the worst drought in 150 years, and that managing such a crisis would be impossible without adequate financial and material support from the Centre.
Kharge made several specific requests in his correspondence. He urged focus on the state's small and marginal farmers and the dry Hyderabad-Karnataka belt. He asked the Prime Minister and Home Minister to calculate input subsidy based on Karnataka's updated Bhoomi land records rather than the outdated 2015-16 Agriculture Census, ensuring that no genuinely eligible farmer is excluded from assistance. Additionally, Kharge called for enhanced support for drinking water security and the cost of substitute power, particularly given the historically low reservoir levels in the Cauvery and hydel catchments.
The letter underscores the urgent need for central intervention as Karnataka grapples with the agricultural and water crisis brought on by the severe drought conditions.
