The Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha has demanded that the State government declare the entire Kalaburagi district drought-hit during the three-day Special Legislature Session and announce a ₹1,000 crore special package to address the drought situation.

KPRS district president Sharanabasappa Mamshetty, addressing the press in Kalaburagi on Tuesday, said only six taluks in the district had so far been declared drought-hit, despite the widespread distress among farmers. He demanded that all the remaining taluks also be brought under the drought-hit category and that relief be distributed without delay.

He also sought a farm loan waiver, the release of pending crop insurance claims, and the withdrawal of loan recovery notices issued by banks to farmers. “At a time when farmers are struggling to save their crops and livelihoods, issuing recovery notices is nothing but anti-farmer,” Mr. Mamshetty criticised.

The failure of rains had dried up wells and borewells, lowered groundwater levels, and severely affected kharif crops, including red gram, cotton, sugarcane, soybean, pulses, and sesame. In several areas, farmers had been unable to take up sowing, he said.

He alleged that delays in relief, disparities in drought declaration, and crop insurance compensation had aggravated the crisis. He urged the State and Union governments to take immediate measures to provide relief to farmers facing severe crop losses and mounting debt.