Tumkuru, 22 July

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday described the emerging drought situation in the State as "extremely serious" and demanded that the Centre immediately provide relief.

He once again urged the central government to declare the crisis in Karnataka and other states as a "calamity of national significance".

"I'm visiting Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts today. On Saturday, the Chief Minister and I will review the drought situation in the Bengaluru division at Chitradurga. A review of the Mysuru division will also be conducted shortly,” Parameshwara told reporters.

He noted there was also a drought situation in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and other places and that both he and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had sough assistance from the Centre, but did not receive any response.