Karnataka Adds Gadag Taluks to Drought Hit List After HK Patil Warning

The Karnataka government has expanded its drought affected list, bringing Gadag, Mundargi and Ron taluks into the latest round of declarations. The move comes shortly after senior Congress leader and Gadag MLA H K Patil warned that he would resign from the Assembly if Gadag was not declared drought hit by October 10.

The latest additions are part of the states continuing drought assessment process, which relies on ground level verification and prescribed criteria. The government has been reviewing rainfall shortages, crop conditions and other indicators before adding more taluks to the relief list.

Patils warning had brought renewed attention to the situation in Gadag. Speaking to farmers at Mulagund, he questioned why Gadag had remained outside the drought declaration despite reports of significant rainfall deficiency and crop losses. He said he would continue pressing the government and had set October 10 as the deadline for his resignation if the taluk was not declared drought affected.

The government has now included the three taluks of Gadag district in the latest list. The decision is significant for farmers in the region because drought classification is linked to eligibility for government relief measures under the states disaster management process.

The drought assessment has been taking place in phases rather than through a single statewide declaration. Karnataka initially declared 101 taluks drought affected. A further 23 taluks were added after field verification, taking the earlier total to 124. Officials have continued examining additional areas as information from ground assessments becomes available.

The Revenue Department has said that ground verification plays an important role in deciding whether individual taluks meet the required conditions. This approach is intended to compare rainfall and agricultural conditions with the established criteria before a drought declaration is made.

The latest list also includes Channapatna, Kanakapura, Harohalli, Jagalur, Piriyapatna, Kushtagi, Talikoti and Hirekerur along with Gadag, Mundargi and Ron, according to the information provided for the latest phase.

Among the newly identified areas, Kanakapura has been classified under the severe drought category, while Gadag, Mundargi and Ron have been placed in the general drought category according to the reported notification.

The drought situation has been a major concern across Karnataka this year. Earlier reports showed that rainfall remained below normal across most districts, with the government indicating that more taluks could qualify as the assessment continued. The Revenue Department has said the process is based on available data and field verification rather than being completed in a single stage.

Patil had also raised concerns about the wider situation in North Karnataka. He said several taluks in the region were still outside the drought list despite rainfall shortages and difficulties faced by farmers. His demand was that areas meeting the prescribed conditions should be considered without political considerations.

The issue had gained further attention after Chief Minister D K Shivakumar visited parts of Gadag district earlier in September and interacted with farmers about crop damage and drought conditions. At the time, the government said the situation was being reviewed and that declarations would be made according to the applicable criteria.

For farmers, the declaration is more than an administrative decision. A drought classification can open the way for relief and support measures intended for affected agricultural areas. The actual assistance available, however, depends on government orders and the applicable relief framework.

The government is expected to continue monitoring conditions even after the latest expansion. Revenue Minister G Parameshwara had earlier indicated that the number of drought affected taluks could rise further as assessments continued, with the possibility of crossing 200.

The latest decision also shows how quickly drought assessments can change when new field information is considered. Areas initially left outside the list can later be added if subsequent verification establishes that they meet the required conditions.

For Gadag district, the inclusion of Gadag, Mundargi and Ron provides recognition of the drought concerns that had been raised by farmers and local representatives. The focus now is likely to shift toward relief measures and the implementation of support for affected agricultural communities.

While H K Patils resignation warning brought political attention to the issue, the governments drought declaration process remains based on official assessment and verification. The latest additions will therefore be followed by further scrutiny of rainfall, crop damage and local conditions as Karnataka continues its drought response.