Karnataka seeks ₹3,310 cr. for rabi crop loss last year

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday urged the Centre to release ₹3,310 crore to Karnataka as compensation for rabi crop loss suffered last year. The State had incurred crop losses to the tune of ₹7,097 crore. Mr. Siddaramaiah, who attended the 3rd Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said farmers have been reeling under drought for the sixth successive year, and 139 and 160 taluks had been declared drought affected in kharif and rabi seasons respectively. Noting that Karnataka believed in constructive federalism while keeping the State and nation’s interest paramount, Mr. Siddaramaiah regretted that the overall grants for major schemes under centrally-sponsored schemes had been decreased up to a maximum of 50%. While appreciating the Centre for ushering in GST, Mr. Siddaramaiah observed that no provision had been made for compensating loss of revenue for States in the Union Budget 2017-18. “The timely release of compensation to States under GST will be an important factor in ensuring that the relationship of mutual trust is maintained between the Centre and the States,” he noted. Claiming credit for recording highest enrolment in the GST portal, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Karnataka had embraced the GST philosophy and presently, had an enrolment of 93%.