State govt. taking steps to mitigate drought effect, says Minister

District in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi offering puja to Goddess Bhuvaneshwari during the Rajyotsava celebrations in Belagavi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: P.K. BADIGER

The State government is taking steps to mitigate drought effect and ensure farmers welfare, district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Sunday.

Only around 10% of the cultivable land in the district has coming under sowing in the rabi season due to drought.  Around 0.40 lakh hectares have been brought under sowing so far across all crops, representing 10% of the target of around 4.1 lakh hectares, he said.

For the kharif season, against a total sowing target of 7.52 lakh hectares across the district, 7.50 lakh hectares were brought under sowing, for 99.70% achievement. However, the crops suffered due to water stress.

The State government is doing all it can. Due to a severe rainfall deficit, 14 taluks in the district have been declared drought-affected. Crop damage has been reported over an area of ​​approximately 5.04 lakh hectares in the district. A proposal seeking ₹680.32 crore as compensation for this crop loss has been submitted to the Central government. As an interim relief, the State government has released drought crop loss compensation, he said.

“During the kharif season, the Agriculture Department distributed 32,882 quintals of high quality seeds to 79,637 farmers at a subsidized rate, utilizing a grant of ₹8.66 crore. Additionally, 2.04 lakh tonnes of fertilizers have been distributed in the district during the kharif season, while the distribution of seeds and fertilizers for the rabi season is currently under way,” he said.

Speaking at the Rajyotsava celebrations in the District Stadium, he said that the State government is spending around ₹215 crore for the development of Saundatti Yallamma Temple. This includes Central grants of ₹100 crore, he said.

The Public Works Minister said that several infrastructure works, including roads and bridges, started three years ago, are nearing completion.

He recalled the contribution of Kannada activists towards Karnataka unification. The Minister hoisted the national flag and received a ceremonial salute from various contingents during the march past. They included the Police and Fire and Emergency Services, the District Armed Reserve and the City Armed Reserve Police, Civil Police (men and women), Home Guards,  KSRP, the Excise Department, NCC Senior Boys and Girls (from various units), the Bharat Seva Dal (from SLVK Agasaga High School) and students from Little Scholar Academy, Mahila Vidyalaya (Guides), Saraswati High School, Government High School (Ramateertha Nagar, Shahapur), Morarji Minority Residential School, Divine Providence High School, D.T. Desai High School, Bharatesh Central School, B.G. Sheshagiri High School, St. Joseph’s High School and the Maheshwari School for the Visually Impaired.

MLA Asif (Raju) Sait, Inspector-General of Police Sandeep Patil, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan, Police Commissioner Prakash Nikam, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Rahul Shindhe, Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan, Deputy Director of Kannada and Culture Vidyavati Bhajantri and others were present.

Published - November 02, 2026 06:36 pm IST