Karnataka CM to lead all-party delegation to PM Modi for farm loan waiver amid drought

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said he would lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek a waiver of farm loans in Karnataka amid drought conditions in more than 100 taluks.

Shivakumar said the Centre should share the burden of providing relief to farmers, arguing that Modi himself had acknowledged the drought situation. He urged BJP state president BY Vijayendra, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and other opposition leaders to join the delegation and press the Centre for a loan waiver.

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The state government has also stepped-up drought-relief measures, including cloud-seeding operations aimed at augmenting rainfall. Water Resources Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy flagged off a plane from HAL airport in Bengaluru on Friday to carry out cloud seeding by releasing rain-inducing chemicals into clouds.

The government expects rainfall to occur within 30-60 minutes of the cloud-seeding process and has allocated Rs 28.52 crore for the project.

Shivakumar, who undertook an aerial survey of drought-hit areas, said he had directed ministers to visit districts assigned to them, meet affected people and monitor relief measures. The government is preparing detailed reports on the drought situation to submit to the Centre and, seek immediate financial assistance.

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Cheluvarayaswamy said the cloud-seeding exercise was aimed at mitigating the water crisis as the southwest monsoon is expected to withdraw this month. Karnataka has received deficient rainfall this year, raising concerns over drinking water availability if adequate water is not conserved before the monsoon ends.

The state undertook a similar cloud-seeding exercise about two decades ago, with a reported success rate of 27%. The government is targeting a success rate of 20-25% this time, Cheluvarayaswamy said.