Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking urgent financial help from the Centre as the drought situation in the state continues to worsen. Shivakumar also asked for the release of 50% of ₹3,705.30 crore drought-relief memorandum as interim financial assistance till the formal assessment and approval process is completed.
The Chief Minister's request comes in the midst of an ever-more acute drought situation in Karnataka. 177 taluks have been declared drought-affected after 76 more taluks were taken as per the guidelines in the Manual for Drought Management, 2020, as per the latest data. The state government has stated that this could rise to 200 by the end of the Southwest Monsoon season (2026).
Karnataka Seeks ₹3,705.30 Crore Drought Help
Karnataka had submitted its Kharif 2026 Drought Memorandum on 10 September seeking ₹3,705.30 crore for immediate relief measures covering 101 drought-declared taluks at that point. And now, with the drought situation worsening, the state is seeking the release of half of this memorandum amount as interim aid.
Shivakumar has said waiting to do the entire assessment and approval process could delay assistance when immediate intervention is needed. The proposed interim funding is to assist the state in meeting urgent needs while the full assessment of losses continues.
The assistance would be offered in the form of support for crop loss, drinking water supply, livestock protection and other critical drought-relief activities.
Rainfall Deficit Raises Concern
The Chief Minister also mentioned the impact of the rainfall deficit on various sectors of the state’s economy and public services. Karnataka depends heavily on the Southwest Monsoon for agriculture, reservoir replenishment, groundwater recharge, fodder availability and hydropower generation.
The state government’s assessment says the long-term rainfall deficit has impacted agriculture, water availability, livestock and the rural economy. Shivakumar has also warned that a lack of rain and soil-moisture conditions could mean crop losses of over 40 lakh hectares.
Water availability is another concern. The Chief Minister has been talking about low reservoir storage in the Cauvery basin and its repercussions for drinking water supply in Bengaluru and neighbouring districts in the coming months.
Request for Advance SDRF Funds
Apart from asking for interim drought assistance, Shivakumar has also asked the Centre to release in advance its share of the second instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
The SDRF is used by states to respond to notified disasters and emergencies. Early availability of the central share would also help Karnataka to respond to the drought situation for relief on a priority basis, according to the Chief Minister’s request.
The state government has insisted that timely assistance to affected farmers and families should be provided to farmers and families in areas where water availability and agricultural activity have been greatly affected.
Central Team Assessment Proposed
The Karnataka government has also proposed that an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) visit the state to conduct a first-hand assessment of the drought-related losses and damages.
As part of the assessment process, the team's report would be considered through the prescribed central mechanisms before a final decision on assistance is taken. Shivakumar has said that the process can take time, so the state is seeking interim financial support while the formal assessment is being carried out.
The other 76 drought-affected taluks are also under assessment. Once the losses in these newly declared areas are quantified, Karnataka will submit an additional memorandum seeking assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
Focus on Farmers, Water and Livestock
The immediate priorities of the state are to help farmers with crop losses, provide drinking water, support livestock and support communities suffering from the drought.
These latest developments come as Karnataka is monitoring rainfall and water-storage conditions across different parts of the country. The state government’s request for interim assistance is now before the Union government, and the overall assessment process will determine the extent of financial assistance ultimately approved.
For Karnataka, the upcoming weeks will be particularly important in terms of crop conditions, reservoir levels, drinking water needs, and the impact of the rainfall deficit on the newly declared drought-hit taluks.
