Pushing ahead with the demand for speedy release of drought relief from the Centre, Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday appealed to the Election Commission (EC) to direct the Centre to release ₹4,663 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and additional support fund of ₹18,171 crore to the State to meet the severe drought situation.
In a letter to EC, he pointed out that 224 out of 236 taluks are reeling under drought. He cited the recent statement of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at a press conference in Bengaluru, where she stated the Centre had written to the Election Commission on March 28 seeking permission to hold a meeting of the high-power committee to clear several proposals for disaster relief, including drought relief for Karnataka.
