86 taluks of state drought-hit: R.V. Deshpande
‘Crops worth Rs 8K crore damaged due to scanty rainfall’
Bengaluru, September 11: Revenue Minister R.V. Deshpande said that the state government has declared 86 taluks in 16 districts which received scanty rainfall in this season as per the guidelines of 2016.
After holding a Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting to review the drought relief works and take a stock of the present situation at Vidhana Soudha here on Tuesday, the Minister said that 89 taluks have received scanty rainfall. As per the central government’s guidelines, the area should receive less than 60 per cent rain against the average rainfall, dry weather for more than three weeks, less than 75 per cent sowing of overall target, satellite-based crops analysis, less than 50 per cent humidity and water resources index of reservoirs and ground water level should be taken into consideration while declaring any taluk as drought hit. The monsoon which entered the state by May 30 has covered the entire state by June 8. But only Malnad and Coastal districts have received heavy rains and remaining places like north and south interior districts of the state were hit by the drought situation, he said.
From June 1 to September 6, the state has received 721 mm rainfall and this was 2 per cent more than the average rainfall. But in this period, 88 districts have received scanty rainfall and Sindhanur taluk in Raichur has suffered with complete drought situation, he said.
There was dry spell for more than three weeks in 104 taluks, lack of humidity in 115 taluks, less than 75 per cent sowing in 44 taluks, crop loss in 119 taluks and groundwater was depleted in 35 taluks, he said.
Crops worth Rs 8k cr damaged
Due to lack of sufficient rainfall, agriculture and horticulture crops grown in 15 lakh hectares of land were damaged incurring a loss of Rs 8,000 crore. Because of the drought situation, drinking water and fodder scarcity was cropped up and this has affected the rural employment opportunities, he said.
Due to heavy rainfall in Malnad and Coastal region, Rs 3,705 crore worth properties and crops were damaged. A delegation led by Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy which met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday appealed him to release Rs 1199.89 crore to take up relief measures, he said.
Drought-hit taluks
Bengaluru Rural- Hosakote, Ramanagar- Channapattana and Kanakapura, Kolar- Bangarapete, Kolara, Maluru, Mulabagilu and Srinivaspura, Chikkaballapura- Bagepalli, Chikkaballapura, Chintamani, Gauribidanur, Gudibande and Shidlaghatta, Tumakur- Chikkanayakanahalli, Gubbi, Koratagere, Kunigal, Madhugiri, Pavagada, Sira, Tipatur and Tumkur, Chitradurga- Challakere, Chitradurga, Hiriyur and Molakalmuru, Davangere- Harapanahalli and Harihara, Chamarajanagar- Kollegala and Yelandur, Mandya- Malavalli, Maddur, Mandya, Nagamangala and Srirangapatna, Bellary- Bellary, Hadagali, Hosapete, Hagaribommanahalli, Kudligi, Sandur and Siruguppa, Koppal- Gangavathi, Koppala, Kushtagi and Yelburga, Raichur- Devadurga, Lingasugur, Manvi, Raichur and Sindhanur, Kalaburgi- Afzalpura, Chincholi, Chittapura, Kalaburagi, Jevargi and Sedam, Yadagiri- Shahapura, Shorapura and Yadagiri, Bidar- Bidar and Humnabad, Belagavi- Ramdurga and Savadatti, Bagalkote- Badami, Bagalkote, Hunagunda, and Jamakhandi, Vijayapura- Basavanabagewadi, Bijapura, Indi, Muddebihal and Sindhagi, Gadag- Gadag, Mundaragi, Raragunda, Rona and Shirahatti, Haveri- Ranebennur, Dharwad- Hubballi and Navalagunda, Hassan- Arsikere, Belur, Channarayapatna and Chikmagalur- Kadur taluks were declared as drought affected, Deshpande said.
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Bengaluru: PUC student dies by suicide, hours after results were declared
Bengaluru (PTI): A second-year Pre-University Course student allegedly died by suicide at her residence here, hours after the exam results were announced, police said on Friday.
Tanushree (17), a science student, reportedly failed in three subjects, which is suspected to be the trigger behind her taking such an extreme step, they said.
However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, except her hall ticket, which was found lying on the bed.
According to police, the incident came to light on Thursday around 3.30 pm, shortly after the results were announced.
She hung herself from the ceiling fan when no one was at home. Her mother had gone to work, a senior police officer said.
Citing preliminary inquiry, the officer said it is a clear-cut case of suicide. She was apparently distressed over failing in three subjects and had also called her friends to discuss the same.
When she did not respond to their calls and messages later, her friends decided to check on her, he said.
Based on her mother's complaint, a case of unnatural death has been filed, with Hebbal police investigation indicating it to be a case of suicide, police added.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
