Due to depleting groundwater levels and a drought-like situation in the Cauvery basin, Karnataka is grappling with an acute water shortage with many districts declared ‘drought-hit’. Addressing a press conference, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah said that due to the crisis, the state suffered a crop loss in more than 48 lakh hectares of land.
“Today the Karnataka government filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the Centre after waiting for five months. Since there is vacation for a week in the Supreme Court, we did not get the endorsement. We expect it next week,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
The petition was filed under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution to give directions to the Government of India to release NDR Funds immediately, which was supposed to be released by the Centre according to law, he explained.
He said that an inter-ministerial central team visited the state to examine the situation and according to the law, the Centre should have provided the relief funds within a month. “We have sent more than 3 memorandums to central government,” said the senior Congress leader, adding that they have no other way, but to approach the Supreme Court to direct them to release funds as per the Disaster Management Act.
“We have mentioned that there has been a violation of the Disaster Management Act and the relief amount should have been released within a month of the visit of the inter-ministerial team to the state, but the funds have not been released by the Centre,” said Siddaramiah.
He added that when the union government did not respond to the memorandum despite the Central team’s report, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishnabyre Gowda went to Delhi but did not get an opportunity to meet the Central Minister.
“Later, on December 20, I and Krishnabyre Gowda again went to Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and made a request. However, we were not compensated. Later, I, personally, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bengaluru and made a request. However, no solution was found,” Siddaramaiah charged.
Despite, Union Home Minister Amit Shah calling a meeting to resolve the state water shortage issue, no funds have been released claimed the chief minister, adding that he also reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the delay in funds, during his visit to the state.
“Farmers need Rs 4,600 crore of relief funds, we (state government) have given Rs 450 crore as a temporary relief. The remaining amount must be given by the centre and the centre must release funds.” said the CM who alleged that ‘step motherly treatment’ is being meted out to Karnataka.
“We have waited patiently for the government of India to take a decision but they haven’t and the farmers are asking us for relief,” said the Karnataka CM.
The chief minister said the state government released Rs 650 crore from our treasury and gave Rs 2,000 each to 33.44 lakh farmers considering the problems faced by them. We have successfully dealt with drought situation in the state, he said.
Taking a jibe, BJP leader Amit Malviya compared the drought-like situations in Hyderabad and Bengaluru. He said on the microblogging site, X “Both cities are unfortunately ruled by the Congress.”
He also alleged that water tank mafias are thriving amid the chaos in the cities and asked “How much are these tanker owners paying to Congress?”
The state had also asked Maharashtra counterpart Eknath Shinde to release water from Warna/Koyna Dam to the Krishna River and Bhima River to meet the needs of both humans and livestock in northern Karnataka.
The letter requested the authorities concerned to immediately release 2.00 TMC of water from the Warna/Koyna reservoir to the Krishna River and 1.00 TMC of water from the Ujjani reservoir to the Bhima River.
(with inputs from agencies)
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