Bengaluru, April 27 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed gratitude towards the Supreme Court for its directive to the Union government for release of Rs 3498.82 crore (rpt) Rs 3498.82 crore in drought relief assistance for the 2023 Karnataka drought.
However, he emphasised that the allocated amount fell far short of the state's requirements, terming it "woefully inadequate."
In a statement posted on X, Siddaramaiah acknowledged the significance of the Supreme Court's intervention, noting it as a historical instance where a state had to resort to legal measures to enforce its rights. He underscored the prolonged wait since September 2023 for a response, expressing regret over the delay.
"The persistent efforts and appeal to the Supreme Court have resulted in securing Rs 3,498.82 crore in drought relief from the Union Government," stated Siddaramaiah. "This marks a critical moment in Indian history, highlighting the necessity of legal recourse to uphold state rights. Nevertheless, it's disappointing that we had to endure such delays."
Despite the relief, Siddaramaiah voiced dissatisfaction with the allocated funds, stressing that the Karnataka government had initially requested Rs 18,000 crore but received only Rs 3,498.98 crore. He rapped the delay in action from the Home Ministry, suggesting that it took the intervention of the Supreme Court to prompt a response.
"The sanction is woefully inadequate. We had asked for Rs 18,000 crores, and we have received only 3498.98 crores," Siddaramaiah lamented in the post.
The Ministry of Finance recently approved the release of Rs 34,5422 crore towards relief assistance for the 2023 Karnataka drought, following a plea filed by the Karnataka government through advocate D L Chidananda. The plea urged the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to expedite the release of financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to address the severe drought affecting the state. UNI BDN SSP