New Delhi (Agency): Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Monday that a cabinet sub-committee will soon meet to discuss the looming drought situation in parts of the state. Based on the sub-committee’s findings, the state government will make its decision on how to tackle the crisis.
Interestingly, Siddaramaiah clarified that the government has no proposal for cloud-seeding, a technique aimed at inducing rainfall. “There are no instances in the world of such an initiative having succeeded,” the Chief Minister pointed out.
Once the state declares a drought, it will inform the central government to get support as per the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) norms. “After we declare drought in the state, we will appeal to the Centre. A central team will come, and they will have to support us as per the NDRF norms,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
Following the official declaration of drought, the Karnataka government plans to roll out relief programs in the affected areas, or “Taluks.” These programs would focus on providing employment to the people most impacted by the drought situation, Siddaramaiah added.
This announcement comes just days after former Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai raised concerns about the increasing drought conditions in various regions of Karnataka. Officials from the Agriculture and Revenue departments have confirmed that the rains in the last week of July were not enough to alleviate the state’s water crisis.
The decision to convene a cabinet sub-committee indicates the government’s concern over the emerging drought conditions and its willingness to act swiftly. However, ruling out cloud-seeding as an option raises questions about what other methods the state may employ to address the issue.
As the government gears up to handle this natural calamity, residents in the drought-affected areas are looking for swift and effective measures. The forthcoming decision from the sub-committee and the potential involvement of the central government are eagerly awaited, as they will shape the state’s approach to this pressing issue.
