Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Wednesday criticised the Karnataka government for failing to adequately address the ongoing drought situation across the state, citing drinking water shortages in several areas, delays in releasing promised funds for affected taluks, and a high number of farmer suicides. Speaking in Bengaluru, Ashoka, as reported by IANS, said more than 3,000 farmers had died by suicide and noted that two farmers in Mandya district had allegedly taken their lives the previous day due to loan-related issues.
The remarks come amid a severe drought that has affected large parts of Karnataka during the 2026 southwest monsoon. Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara has stated that 177 taluks have been declared drought-hit, with the possibility of more being added after further assessments. The state has recorded a substantial rainfall deficit, described by officials as one of the worst in over 150 years and linked in part to El Niño conditions. Crop losses have been significant, with sowing falling short of targets and widespread withering of standing crops reported in rain-fed areas.
Ashoka alleged that the government had not released funds earlier promised for each taluk to tackle issues such as drinking water scarcity and related relief works. He pointed to persistent problems with water availability in multiple regions and linked the distress to mounting agricultural debts. Opposition leaders have repeatedly claimed that farmer suicides have crossed 2,800 since the Congress government assumed office in 2023, with official figures earlier acknowledging over 2,800 cases from the 2023-24 fiscal year onward. The specific claim of two recent deaths in Mandya was attributed by Ashoka to loan pressures.
The state government has taken several steps in response. It has announced an input subsidy of Rs 2,500 per farmer for those in drought-declared areas, covering an estimated 45 to 50 lakh farmers at a cost of about Rs 1,250 crore. A moratorium on certain agricultural loans has also been put in place. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has written to the Centre seeking interim financial assistance, including around Rs 1,852 crore as 50 per cent of an earlier memorandum amount, and has proposed an all-party delegation to New Delhi to seek further support. Officials have noted that losses in the initially assessed taluks alone run into thousands of crores.
Opposition parties, including the BJP, have described the Rs 2,500 relief as inadequate compared to demands for compensation of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per acre and broader loan waivers. They have also called for faster release of funds at the taluk level for borewells, fodder, and drinking water arrangements. The government has maintained that it is following the Centre’s drought management guidelines for declarations and assessments while prioritising immediate relief measures.
The drought continues to strain rural livelihoods, with impacts on agriculture, livestock, groundwater, and potential drinking water supplies in urban centres such as Bengaluru in the coming months. Reservoir levels remain a concern in several basins. Further assessments of remaining taluks and the response from the Centre on financial assistance will shape the next phase of relief efforts. Officials have indicated that additional measures and reports on losses will be submitted in phases as the situation is monitored.
