Karnataka is reeling under a severe crisis with 139 of its 176 taluks in the state being drought-hit.
The state has suffered a loss of Rs 17,193 crore, which has affected over 30 lakh farmers. This was Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their talks in New Delhi on Friday, the Times of India reported.
The Chief Minister has urged Modi to release Rs 4,702.54 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund to help the state recover from the crisis of crop loss, a report by The Hindu says.
"Deficit rainfall has adversely impacted agriculture activity in 36.35 lakh hectares in the state," he was quoted as saying in TOI.
During the meeting, Siddaramaiah also mentioned that an inter-ministerial team had visited various drought-hit regions in the state between November 2 and 5, but Karnataka was still awaiting funds from the Centre, the Deccan Chronicle reported.
The CM also sought funds from the Centre for relief work in five flood-hit districts of north Karnataka. Lauding the PM for increasing the budgetery allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from Rs 6.07 crore to Rs 10 crore, Siddaramaiah also requested Modi to increase the quota of work for each household from 100 days to 200 in the drought-hit areas of Karnataka and asked for the release of Rs 2,856.72 crore for MNREGS in the state, the Hindu report said.
The CM also sought Modi's intervention in the Mahadayi issue, but got no assurance from the PM in this regard, DC reported.
The state is seeking the diversion of 7.56tmcft water from the Mahadayi River to the Kalasa-Banduri project to meet the drinking water needs of a few areas in north Karnataka.
In May, Siddaramaiah had sought Rs 12,272 crore relief from Modi as crops had failed in 12 districts.