Big win for Karnataka’s fight for funds: Centre releases disaster relief after plea in Supreme Court

The plea also sought to declare that the action of the government in refusing to release the financial aid for drought arrangement was a violation of the fundamental rights of the people guaranteed under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Also Read: Karnataka moves SC against Union government over drought relief

Drought relief ‘woefully inadequate’

The release of funds comes in response to the recommendations put forth by the Ministry of Home Affairs and is intended to aid states in their relief efforts following various disasters, the note said.

The approved amount will be distributed as follows:

Karnataka: ₹3498.82 crore for drought relief during the Kharif season of 2023

Tamil Nadu: ₹285.54 crore for cyclonic storm ‘Michaung’ in 2023, and ₹397.13 crore for flood relief in December 2023.

Reacting to the development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, thanking the top court, said that the financial aid released was insufficient, citing the state’s need for ₹18,171 crore to effectively tackle the crisis.

“After persistent efforts and an appeal to the Supreme Court, we’ve secured ₹3,498.82 crore in drought relief from the Union Government,” the chief minister wrote on Facebook.

“This is perhaps the first time in the history of India that a state was driven to the Supreme Court to get its rights enforced. It’s regrettable that we had to wait since September 2023 for a response. Ministry of Home Affairs finally woke up after the Hon. Supreme Court rang the bell,” he wrote.

“Finally, some justice has been done to our farmers. However, the sanction is woefully inadequate. We had asked for ₹18,000 crore and we have got ₹3498.98 crore!” Siddaramaiah said, adding that the “fight for the arrears will continue”.

Also Read: Win for Karnataka as Centre tells SC it will decide on funds in a week

RBI directed for immediate fund transfer

The Reserve Bank of India has been instructed to immediately credit the allocated amounts into the respective state governments’ accounts.

Disbursement of the funds will be conducted in accordance with the operational guidelines governing the administration of the NDRF, as per recommendations from the 15th Finance Commission.

The release of funds will follow normal accounting procedure.

However, due to the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 by the Election Commission, certain conditions will govern the release of the assistance as follows.

• There shall be no publicity in this regard in electronic, print, radio, internet or any other media, in any form whatsoever.
• No political functionary shall make any reference in this regard during any public speech or communication to the press or public.
• These restrictions on publicity will be applicable to the central government as well as the state governments concerned.
• The relevant provisions of MCC issued by EC shall be strictly followed.
• No new work shall be taken up afresh during MCC period.
• No political mileage may be derived out of it.

The ministry also said that any action taken in response to the directive be communicated to the division.

Also Read: Dy CM DK Shivakumar urges EC to direct Centre to release drought relief for K’taka

‘Injustice to Karnataka’

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that the state government had not yet received the letter from the central government regarding the fund release.

“There is no mention of whether it’s the first instalment or there is also a second instalment. It appears that only this much has been awarded (relief funds) for our request. There is no mention of giving additional funds,” he told the reporters.

“₹18171.44 cr was the relief sought as per SDRF rules for Karnataka drought relief. Central Government has only sanctioned ₹3498 cr. That is less than 20% of the relief funds we had asked for. One of the worst droughts, 223 out of 240 Talukas under drought, and Karnataka gets less than 20%,” the revenue minister wrote on social media platform X.

The minister said that the state government would write to the union government again stating the demand for more funds as the sanctioned relief will not be sufficient.

When asked whether the government would approach the court again if the centre doesn’t release the required funds, he said: “We had asked them relief grants as per the laws. We had gone to court when we were not given grants as per the laws.”

“The central government has the discretion to decide on the grants that they would give to the state. They have given meagre grants. It is injustice to Karnataka,” Krishna Byre Gowda said.

“We will first request them about the injustice through a letter. Based on their reply, we will decide on further course of action. We need to consult our officials and legal team as well,” added the minister.

(Edited by Shauqueen Mizaj)