NEW DELHI: The Union Government has released Rs 3,454 crore to the Karnataka Government to take up drought relief works.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance said the high power committee headed by Home Minister Amit Shah approved the release of funds for drought relief works in Kharif 2023.
The Congress government in Karnataka had sought Rs 18,174 crore from the Centre for drought relief works, including the dispensation of Rs 5,662 crore as compensation to farmers who lost their crops due to rain failure.
Amidst a tussle between both governments over the delay in the release of relief funds, the state moved the Supreme Court with a writ petition seeking its intervention to get the fund released. In response, the Centre assured the apex court that it would release the funds soon.
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had recently claimed that the state has been demanding the Centre release funds under the National Disaster Management scheme to take up drought relief works for the past nine months. But, there was no response, which forced the state to move the Supreme Court.
CM thanks Apex Court
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah thanked the apex court on Saturday for prodding the Centre into acting on his government’s plea.
As against Karnataka’s demand for the release of Rs 18,171 crore, the Centre has approved the release of Rs 3,498 crore, of which only Rs 3,454 crore has been released, he said.
“Karnataka has suffered a loss to the tune of over 30,000 crore due to crop loss and other related issues, and the government had sought Rs 18,171 crore crop loss funds under the NDRF scheme from the Centre,” he said. As Rs 3,454 crore is inadequate to address the issues, the state government will continue its fight for its rightful share of funds, he added.
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