Published Oct 04, 2026 | 3:01 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 04, 2026 | 3:02 PM
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara at a review meeting. (Twitter)
Karnataka government has estimated total losses of around ₹46,000 crore across the first two phases of the drought crisis and has sought approximately ₹7,500 crore in Central relief under standard norms, Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara said.
The announcement followed a meeting with the visiting Central drought assessment team, led by Ajit Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The assessment delegation has been divided into three groups for extensive field visits across the state, with evaluations scheduled to continue through October 6.
Parameshwara explained that the first memorandum submitted to the Centre estimated losses of around ₹18,000 crore, against which the state sought about ₹3,700 crore under Central norms. Losses in the second phase were subsequently estimated at around ₹27,000 crore, with approximately ₹3,500 crore requested as additional relief.
Urging the Centre to evaluate the request fairly, Parameshwara stated, “Do not give us more than what is due, but do not give us less either.”
He emphasized that Karnataka had sought assistance within the Centre’s drought-relief guidelines, noting that recent rainfall would have little impact on crops already damaged and that the Central team’s assessment should focus on the rainfall deficit and accumulated losses during June-September.
According to Karnataka Revenue Department orders, 217 of the state’s 240 taluks have been declared drought-affected.
An October 1 order officially declared another 40 taluks drought-affected—24 severely and 16 moderately—following earlier declarations covering 101, 23, and 53 taluks. Parameshwara noted that 49 lakh farmers have enrolled for crop insurance and claimed the state has already suffered roughly an 82% crop loss. He added that the team was briefed on crop losses, rainfall deficit, drinking-water availability, reservoir and lake levels, fodder stocks, crop insurance, input subsidy, and measures to prevent distress migration.
The assessment comes amid an urgent appeal by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his personal intervention as Karnataka reels from a 58% rainfall deficiency as of September, with all 31 districts affected. In his letter, Kharge warned that the current crisis may turn out to be the worst drought seen in the last 150 years, coming just three years after the severe 2023 drought—which was itself the worst in 124 years—and creating acute distress that the state’s resources alone cannot match.
Kharge detailed the severe toll on the ground, highlighting that more than 31 lakh farming families face the loss of their livelihoods as crop losses extending over 19.52 lakh hectares have been assessed at ₹18,748.23 crore, contributing to an overall economic loss estimated at about ₹40,000 crore.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
