Minister Rayaraddi urges CM to declare three taluks in Gadag district as drought-hit

Basavaraj Rayaraddi | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayaraddi has urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to declare Gadag, Ron and Mundargi taluks in Gadag distrit as drought-affected in view of the significant rainfall deficit recorded during the ongoing kharif season.In a letter to the Chief Minister on Monday, Mr. Rayaraddi said farmers in the three taluks were facing severe difficulties owing to deficient monsoon rainfall.According to the data cited in the letter, Gadag taluk received 154.9 mm of rainfall against the normal 304.7 mm. Mundargi recorded 120.9 mm against the normal 232.6 mm, while Ron received 179.8 mm against the normal 338 mm.The three taluks have thus recorded a rainfall deficit of about 47% to 49% compared with the normal rainfall, the Minister said.Mr. Rayaraddi said he visited farmers’ fields in all the taluks of the district in August to assess the ground situation. “The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), which monitors drought conditions scientifically, has also been providing rainfall and drought indicators used in the government’s decision-making process,” he said.The Minister has pointed out that the Chief Minister himself had visited farmers’ fields in Gadag district and assessed the crop situation and the damage caused by the rainfall deficit. Officials concerned had also conducted field-level assessments and submitted reports to the government, the Minister said.However, despite the reported rainfall deficit and the difficulties faced by farmers, the process of declaring Gadag, Ron and Mundargi as drought-hit taluks was yet to be completed. The delay had caused concern among farmers and MLAs from the district, Mr. Rayaraddi, who is also the Gadag district in-charge Minister, said, adding that any further delay could increase dissatisfaction among farmers.Mr. Rayaraddi urged the Chief Minister to take the necessary steps to declare the three taluks drought-affected at the earliest, keeping in view the interests of farmers and the need to maintain public confidence in the government. Published - September 21, 2026 07:54 pm IST