Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks Rs 18,171 crore drought relief

“For drought relief to be released to Karnataka, the high-power committee under Union Home Minister Amit Shah should convene a meeting. Though we have petitioned the Centre for relief thrice, the committee’s primary meeting has not been held. So, we requested the PM to ensure that the meeting is convened and the relief is released,” Siddaramaiah said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today and briefed him on the state’s current drought situation. He requested a swift release of Rs 18,177.44 crore for relief measures.

Of the total amount of Rs 18,177.44 crore, Rs 4,663.12 crore is… pic.twitter.com/JLNBieJfSQ

— CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) December 19, 2023

According to a letter submitted to PM Modi by the Siddaramaiah, of the Rs 18,171.44 crore sought by Karnataka, Rs 4,663.12 crore was for input subsidy, Rs 12,577.86 crore for gratuitous relief and the remainder for drinking water arrangements and animal husbandry interventions.

“It is nearly three months since we submitted our first memorandum and two months since the inter-ministerial central team made its field visits. The farmers of Karnataka are in deep distress. Since crops have failed, it is necessary that we pay the input subsidy to the farmers soon to alleviate their hardship and suffering,” the letter read.

On the Upper Bhadra project, Siddaramaiah told reporters that though Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced Rs 5,300 crore in the Union budget, funds were yet to be released.