Bengaluru
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has pledged to take immediate action on the recurring flood damage caused by the Ghataprabha river. During a meeting with farmers from Mudhola taluk on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah announced plans to consult with the Irrigation, Revenue, and Public Works Department Ministers to address the issue promptly.
The farmers’ delegation highlighted significant crop damage over the past four years due to the Ghataprabha river floods. Specifically, 34,639 hectares have been affected: 15,088 hectares in 2019, 7,051 hectares in 2021, and 12,500 hectares in 2024. The farmers requested adequate crop compensation and permanent solutions to mitigate future damage.
Under current central government guidelines, compensation is set at Rs. 22,500 per hectare for irrigated sugarcane and Rs. 17,000 for other crops. However, these amounts are deemed insufficient by farmers, especially considering the high cost of sugarcane cultivation, which is about Rs. 1.5 lakh per hectare at Karnataka Agricultural University. In comparison, neighboring states offer higher compensation rates.
The farmers have requested that compensation be provided for all damaged fields, irrespective of the NDRF and SDRF norms. Excise Minister RB Thimmapura and other officials were also present at the meeting.
