New Delhi, May 8: Karnataka on Saturday sought Rs 12,272 crore from the Centre to take up drought-proofing measures such as restoration of tanks, afforestation, recharging borewells and construction of farm ponds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a separate meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and discussed on drought situation and scarcity of drinking water in the state.
Modi also took feedback from Siddaramaiah about the preparation for the coming agriculture seasons following a good monsoon forecast. The prime minister also urged the state to give maximum attention to desilting, building farm tanks and check dams over the next 30-40 days.
Modi said Rs 603 crore would be made available with Karnataka in 2016-17 for water conservation and drought proofing under various Central government schemes. Similarly, Rs 830 crore would be available under various agriculture schemes.
Emerging out of the meeting, Siddaramaiah told reporters that he was happy as for the first time, the prime minister held a meeting with the state to take a stock of the situation.
With Karnataka having the largest drought-prone area are after Rajasthan, there is a need for immediate assistance from the Centre to take up short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to address the calamity, he said.
Siddaramaiah also said that the prime minister promised him to study the proposal on granting fund and take immediate steps to release Rs 723 crore for disbursal among farmers who have suffered crop loss during the rabi season.
Siddaramaiah also apprised Modi of the steps taken by Karnataka for wastewater management. Appreciating these efforts, the prime minister emphasised that those should be taken up in a big way in towns and cities. Siddaramaiah also apprised the prime minister of the preparatory steps taken towards implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
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