Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged Narendra Modi to release funds for crop losses and addressed sugarcane farmers' pricing demands.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite the release of Rs 22,400.58 crore in drought relief to Karnataka. Speaking at the inauguration of the Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Shivakumar noted that the state recorded its second-lowest rainfall in 70 years, leaving 226 of its 240 taluks drought-hit.
According to reports from Deccan Chronicle and The New Indian Express, crop damage across 58 lakh hectares has resulted in estimated losses of Rs 62,482 crore. The state has sought the assistance under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
The Chief Minister also raised concerns for sugarcane growers, who are requesting a price of Rs 5,500 per tonne for the 2026-27 season, compared to the current Fair and Remunerative Price of Rs 3,650 per tonne. He noted that the minimum support price for sugar has been stuck at Rs 31 per kg since 2019 and called for a fair share of ethanol allocation for the state.
Shivakumar further advocated for better Centre-state cooperation regarding Metro rail expansion. He stated that while projects are often based on a 50:50 cost-sharing model, Karnataka bears significant additional burdens, including land acquisition, utility shifting, and most cost escalations.
In Kalaburagi, Aland MLA B.R. Patil staged a protest on November 11, alleging that the Central Government has failed to respond to the state's appeals for relief. Patil demanded a loan waiver for distressed farmers and the establishment of fodder banks in every gram panchayat.
