Central Government Team Conducts Ground Assessment in Rain-Hit Kalaburagi
A team dispatched by the central government arrived in Kalaburagi district on Tuesday. Their mission was clear: evaluate the widespread destruction caused by heavy rainfall during August and September. The team focused on both agricultural losses and damaged public infrastructure.
Village-by-Village Inspection Reveals Extent of Loss
The officials conducted a thorough tour of several affected villages in Kamalapur taluk. They visited Kinni Sadak, Dongargaon, Bhimanal, and Kamalapur. At each location, they carefully inspected ruined crops, battered roads, and compromised bridges.
Leading the team was Dr. Ponnuswamy, director of the Hyderabad Oilseed Development Division under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. He was accompanied by Jayashree Kakkar, an under-secretary from the Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR). Together, they listened intently to the complaints and hardships shared by local farmers.
Farmers Share Stories of Financial Ruin
The team made a specific visit to the field of a farmer named Abhishek in Dongargaon village. He had sown pigeon pea across approximately 4.3 acres. "We invested Rs 30,000 per acre," Abhishek explained to the officials, his frustration evident. "The excessive rain destroyed everything. We are not even harvesting 6 kilograms per acre now." His story highlighted the severe financial blow dealt to the agricultural community.
District Commissioner B. Fauzia Tarannum provided the team with an official overview. She confirmed that a huge quantity of crops was damaged across the entire district. The rain also wreaked havoc on critical infrastructure, including schools, health centers, anganwadis, roads, and bridges.
"Compensation has already been distributed according to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines," DC Tarannum stated. She further noted that the state's Chief Minister had conducted an aerial survey of the affected region. Following this, the state government announced and subsequently disbursed additional compensation to the victims.
Official Data Confirms Catastrophic Crop Loss
Joint Agriculture Director Samad Patel presented stark statistics. In Kamalapur taluk alone, pigeon pea was sown over 7,892 hectares. A devastating 80% of this area suffered damage. Patel pointed out a major ongoing challenge: the soil retains significant moisture from the rains. This condition currently makes it impossible for farmers to plant a second crop, prolonging their distress.
The inspection continued at survey number 323 in Kamalapur, on land belonging to farmer Mahadevappa Basavanappa Savari. The team documented damage to pigeon pea crops sown across 6.2 acres there. Another farmer, Prashant, reported that rains had ruined crops on more than 3 acres of his land.
Infrastructure Damage Also Under Scrutiny
The assessment was not limited to agriculture. The team also evaluated significant damage to public works. They examined the compromised bridge connecting Kinni Sadak and Dor Jambaga. Additionally, they inspected the damaged road within Bhimanal village, noting the need for repairs.
The visit concluded with several local officials in attendance. Present were Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Bhanwar Singh Meena, Deputy Director of Horticulture Santosh Inandar, Tahsildar Mohammad Mohsin, and Assistant Agriculture Director Arun Kumar Moolimani. Their presence underscored the coordinated response between central and local authorities to address this crisis.
