H.K. Patil’s September 19 letter to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, shared by JD(S) on X.
Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (Secular) has questioned Karnataka’s drought assessment, citing a September 19, 2026 letter in which Gadag MLA H.K. Patil urged Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to address rainfall-data problems and the exclusion of 27 taluks from a drought declaration.
In a post on X, the opposition party alleged that officials had disregarded the Chief Minister’s directions and failed to properly assess conditions in North Karnataka. It cited rainfall shortages of 40% to 60% and accused the administration of delays.
Letter seeks a review of the declaration
The one-page Kannada letter attached to the post describes farmers’ difficulties following deficient rainfall in the Kittur Karnataka region. Patil argued that 27 of the region’s 73 taluks had been left out of the drought declaration and sought reconsideration of the notification.
Patil also questioned the collection and handling of rainfall data, referring to a September 9 newspaper report about problems with rain gauges. He criticised the Statistics Department’s handling of directions and decisions concerning crop insurance.
The letter alleged that communications from the department took 10 days to reach local offices. Patil urged the government to recognise drought conditions across the affected North Karnataka taluks and provide justice to farmers.
JD(S) targets the administration
Referring to the letter, JD(S) questioned whether the government or its officials were directing the administration. The party accused officials in Bengaluru of assessing North Karnataka’s agricultural conditions without adequately reflecting farmers’ difficulties.
These are allegations made in the party’s post and the attached letter. The post did not include a response from the state government or the officials concerned.
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