Parched state Karnataka seeks Rs 12,000 crore from Centre to slake thirst

Bengaluru: Plagued by the worst drought in four decades, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday with a request for release of Rs 12,272 crores to provide succour across the state.

Official sources said at the meeting, Mr Siddaramaiah explained to Mr Modi about how the state incurred loss of crops worth Rs 15,635 crores in 27 of the 30 districts during the the kharif season of 2015-16 crop year, while crops worth Rs 7,000 crores were estimated to have been affected during the rabi season because of drought in 12 districts.

Sources said Mr Siddaramaiah sought Mr Modi's intervention once again to solve the dispute over sharing water of the river Mahadayi and thus facilitate completion of Kalasa-Banduri drinking water project which would help provide water to thousands of people in parched districts of north Karnataka.