From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 3: As many as 10 lakh farmers suffering from drought conditions in Karnataka will be receiving compensation for their crop losses during the monsoon and rabi season of 2015-17.
The crop loss compensation payment is the offshoot of Karnataka getting Rs 1,712.10 crore for drought-hit Karnataka from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) from the centre.
So far, Rs 671 crore compensation had been released to 1.21 lakh farmers by the state government.
Of the 176 taluks in Karnataka, as many as 160 taluks have been declared drought-hit.
Karnataka's Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister TB Jayachadra told reporters that the compensation would be paid through Real Time Gross settlement (RTGS) for crop loss to about 10 lakh farmers in the next 10 days.
All district Deputy Commissioners and Agriculture Department officials have been instructed to verify Aadhar numbers and bank accounts of farmers, he said.
Compensation of Rs 18,000 would be paid per hectare of crop loss on irrigated lands, Rs 13,500 per hectare on rain-fed areas and Rs 6,800 per hectare in drought-prone areas.
Though the State government had sought Rs 4702 crore for crop loss during monsoon and rabi seasons, the minister said that Centre had released Rs 1712.10 crore.
The Centre had not released funds for drinking water and purchase of fodder for domestic animals, he said.
Jayachandra said Rs 200 crore would be released for tackling drinking water in drought-hit taluks of the state with severity of summer was more in Hassan, Tumakuru and Chitradurga districts.
More than 600 private borewells have been hired for rent ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 per month by Deputy Commissioners.
With Karnataka suffering from severe drought situation for the second consecutive year, the State Government would do its best to meet the drinking water and fodder requirements for people and cattle and also help the farmers for the ensuing farming season, he added.