By IANS,
Bangalore : The Karnataka government has decided to declare 84 of the state’s 176 taluks drought hit and will approach the central government for funds for relief work, a minister said Friday.
Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, a member of the state cabinet sub-committee set up to consider which taluks be considered drought-hit, told reporters that his panel had zeroed in on 84 taluks spread over 20 of the 29 districts.
Of the 84 taluks, 66 are in north Karnataka.
North Karnataka has received only 231.1 mm of rain as against the normal rainfall of 298.8 mm between June 1, the start of the monsoon season, and Aug 20, according to the India meteorological department figures.
The state has Rs.1.15 billion with it to provide immediate relief to the drought hit people and will approach the central government in September for additional funds, Reddy said.