Karnataka adds 23 taluks to drought list, total now 124
Karnataka has declared 23 more taluks drought-hit, taking the state total to 124, with 110 classified as severely affected and 14 as moderate.
Karnataka has added 23 taluks to its list of drought-affected areas, pushing the statewide total to 124, the government announced on Thursday.
The second round of ground truthing classified 21 of the newly notified taluks as severely drought-affected and two as moderately affected. With this, the state now has 110 taluks in the severe category and 14 in the moderate category.
The first round of assessments, completed on August 27, had identified 101 drought-hit taluks.
The taluks placed in the severely drought-affected list in the latest round are Tiptur, Karatagi, Manvi, Sindhanur, Sirawara, Afzalpur, Aland, Chittapur, Kalaburgi, Yadrami, Shahbad, Bhalki, Basavanabagewadi, Bableshwar, Tikota, Rattehalli, Hubballi, Navalgund, Hubballi City, Annigeri and Kadur.
A third round of ground truthing is now planned for 53 taluks spread across 17 districts. The selection was based on rainfall recorded between June 1 and September 16, soil moisture levels and the condition of standing crops, among other indicators.
Officials will tour villages in these taluks on September 19 and 20 to assess crop damage, and teams have been directed to file their reports by September 21.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara indicated that the exercise could be widened further. In a post on social media platform X, he said more taluks would be brought under ground truthing in a fourth round if the need arose.