Bangalore: Large parts of the State are again in the grip of drought after a gap of three years. Crops have withered in over 50 taluks and in another 50 taluks even the open wells and tanks have started drying resulting in migration of agricultural workers from several parts of Koppal and Raichur districts.

Minister for Revenue Jagadish Shettar told The Hindu here on Thursday that should the north-east monsoon turn out to be a repeat of the south-west monsoon, the situation might become worse. Several taluks in Bellary and Gulbarga districts apart from the horticultural districts of Bagalkot, Bijapur and Kolar were also facing a difficult situation. The only districts that were not affected by the drought were Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Udupi.

The State Government had sent across a memorandum to the Union Government seeking a special assistance of Rs. 1,200 crore to tackle drought in 116 of the 176 taluks in the State. The Government had already declared 116 taluks as drought-hit and directed deputy commissioners to provide all assistance to the people, including the supply of drinking water and fodder for milch animals. Mr. Shettar said pending the release of funds from the Centre, the State Government had released Rs. 132 crore to the districts to undertake drought relief works.

Sources in the State Government said that there was large-scale migration of labour in Raichur and Koppal districts and the people below the poverty line were either shifting towards greener pastures of Andhra Pradesh or towards Bangalore and Mumbai in search of employment. The Government was yet to get into top gear to face the drought although instructions had been issued to the deputy commissioners.

Mr. Shettar said the State Government had sought five lakh tonnes of foodgrains from the Centre to commence the food-for-work programme.

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