Chaired by Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, who is also the Yadgir district in-charge Minister, the meeting reviewed the current agricultural situation to establish necessary grounds for declaring the remaining five taluks of the district as drought-affected in the upcoming official announcement.
Drought declaration and agriculture damage
Addressing the meeting, Dr. Patil stated that soil moisture levels, prolonged dry spells, and rainfall deficits are the primary criteria being evaluated. He noted that the State government is set to release a fresh list of drought-affected areas, in which Yadgir’s remaining taluks are likely to be included.
Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandve briefed the meeting on the extent of crop damage caused by inadequate rainfall over the past month. The district experienced a continuous four-week dry spell up to September 6, qualifying it for drought consideration. Official status as a drought-affected region is expected by September 16.
Joint Director of Agriculture Ratendranath Sugur reported that Yadgir received only 50% of its average seasonal rainfall during the monsoon. Although June recorded 98 mm of rainfall against the normal 110 mm, which enabled sowing across 92% of targeted land, subsequent dry conditions devastated crops.
In Shahapur taluk, which was declared drought-affected in the first phase, a survey covering 43,985 hectares identified 38,392 eligible farmers, whose only two hectares of land was considered, with ₹8,500 per hectare. The estimated compensation payout stands at ₹59 crore.
In response to MLA Raja Venugopal Naik’s request to prioritise Shorapur and Hunsagi taluks, officials confirmed that relief measures and assessments would continue through October.
Crackdown on illagel seeds
Regarding enforcement actions against illegal seed and fertilizer trade, Mr. Sugur highlighted that routine raids resulted the suspension of licences for eight fertilizer retail shops and two FIRs have been registered while the seizure of illegal materials valued at ₹17 lakh.Distress among the farming community was a major focal point following reports that seven farmers in the district committed suicide due to crop failures and mounting debt. Compensation procedures have been finalised for three families, three cases await Forensic Science Laboratory reports, and one claim was rejected. Additionally, compensation was disbursed to 33 of the 34 families affected by farmer suicides in the previous year.
Underperformance in Horticulture and Sericulture
Dr. Patil expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress in Horticulture sector. The current coverage stands at just 2.48%, far below the prescribed 20% guideline. The Minister instructed officials to actively encourage farmers to shift toward horticulture and contacted senior State officials over the phone to expedite pending Cluster Development Programme (CDP) proposals.The Minister reprimanded the Sericulture Department officials for registering zero progress. “Despite receiving salaries over the past six months, you have done nothing for improvement,” he said and directed immediate accountability and field action.
Industrial safety, VB-G RAM G
Turning to industrial governance at the Kadechur-Badiyal Industrial Area, Dr. Patil directed the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board to install mandatory infrastructure, including dedicated effluent pipelines for chemical waste disposal.He also criticised the Karnataka Pollution Control Board for failing to strictly enforce the scientific operation of Effluent Treatment Plants.
Officials confirmed that 22 factories are currently operating in the industrial estate. A pharmaceutical unit where three workers recently died following chemical inhalation remains closed pending an ongoing investigation.
Zilla panchayat officials reported that under the revised framework for VB-G RAM G (formerly MGNREGA), 1.71 lakh mandays have been generated against an annual target of 47 lakh.
MLAs Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Channareddy Patil Tunnur, Raja Venugopal Naik, Baburao Chinchansur, and Baburao Kadlur, alongside Deputy Commissioner Rahul Pandve, Superintendent of Police Pruthvik Shankar, Shenik Kumar Dhoka, Vithal Yadav, and other district-level officials were present.
