Bengaluru, 6 November

Karnataka has sought around Rs 22,000 crore in drought relief from the Centre under the NDRF norms, against an estimated total crop loss of Rs 62,000 crore, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday.

The State government has submitted three memoranda to the Centre seeking compensation for drought-related crop losses and has sought appointments with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to present its case personally, he said.

“If the appointments are granted, we will go with an all-party delegation. If we are not given time, we have decided to meet the ministers under the leadership of the Chief Minister (D K Shivakumar) and submit our request," he said.

Parameshwara added that Modi would be coming to Karnataka to inaugurate Bengaluru’s Namma Metro’s Pink Line on 13 November. 

“We expect the PMO to officially give us time. If an appointment is granted in New Delhi, we will go there and explain the drought situation and the need for relief. If we are asked to meet him in Mysuru, we will meet him there and submit our request,” he said.

STATE’S FINANCES ARE BETTER 

On the financial implications of recent government decisions, Parameshwara said Karnataka's revenue position was better than that of the previous year.

“We are receiving good revenue from commercial taxes, excise, stamps and registration. Various measures have been taken only after assessing the state's revenue position," he said.

Asked about increases in transport fares and the prices of milk and curd, he said the government had to balance the interests of different sections of society, including farmers, sugarcane growers and government employees.