Bengaluru: A day after the state Cabinet declared 68 taluks in 22 districts as drought hit, the Cabinet sub-committee feels the total area affected by drought may be double this figure.
Speaking to reporters after the sub-committee meeting on drought here on Thursday, Revenue Minister Mr Kagodu Thimmappa said that another 103 taluks were also facing severe drought.
The situation in these taluks came up for discussion only on Thursday and the situation in these areas is alarming. In some taluks, only one or two hoblis are drought affected. The department is compiling the data on them and they would be soon declared drought affected areas, he said.
In most of the coastal and Malnad areas, the rainfall was only 20% of the normal this year. Last year, the Centre had provided Rs 600 crore for drought relief and this year too, the state is looking for aid. The actual situation in south and interior Karnataka is being analysed, the minister said. Answering a question, Mr Kagodu said that some of the areas were facing an acute drinking water shortage.
In such areas, to ensure water for drinking, the government may lift the ban on digging borewells. The issue will come up in the next cabinet meeting, he added.
