In the urban expanse of New Delhi, the Karnataka administration apprised the Apex Court on Monday regarding its submission of data to the Central authority. It pledged to furnish an affidavit during the court’s deliberations on the state’s entreaty concerning the disbursement of financial aid from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for the mitigation of drought.
A panel comprising justices B R Gavia and Sandeep Mehta has allocated the issue for further contemplation post the hiatus of summer. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Karnataka administration, articulated, “The Central authority alleged non-receipt of our data, yet we possess their data. We shall duly present an affidavit…”.
Justice Gavai intimated that if Karnataka remains dissatisfied, the court will address the matter in the forthcoming session, suggesting a post-summer hearing. Sibal concurred and supplemented, “Their internal protocol mandates consideration… I abstain from controversy today, we shall lodge the affidavit…”.
Following a succinct discourse on the matter, the bench consented to fix the hearing immediately post the recess.
On April 29, the Central government apprised the Apex Court that a sum nearing Rs 3,400 crore had been disbursed to the Karnataka administration for drought management in the region.
The Attorney General of India, R Venkataramani, briefed the court on the disbursement of Rs 3,400 crore to the state administration.
Sibal contended that while the state had petitioned for Rs 18,000 crore, only Rs 3,450 crore had been allocated. He further noted that an inter-ministerial delegation conducted an assessment, the findings of which were forwarded to a sub-committee. Venkataramani affirmed that the sub-committee duly considered the recommendations of the inter-ministerial delegation.
Sibal underscored that the funds were solicited for the provision of gratuitous relief to families severely impacted by drought-induced livelihood challenges. “We express gratitude for the allocated sum. There lies no contention on this front,” affirmed Sibal.
He pointed out the existence of an inter-ministerial delegation that surveyed the state’s predicament and submitted its findings to the sub-committee. He urged the Apex Court to compel the Central authority to produce the said report and make decisions accordingly. “We harbor no objections to the course of action dictated by the report,” he added.
The bench sought clarification regarding the recommendations. The Attorney General attested, “I affirm that the recommendations have been duly acted upon.” Upon the bench’s insistence, he agreed to furnish the recommendations of the inter-ministerial delegation in written form.
The Apex Court entertained a plea filed by the Karnataka administration seeking directives to the Central authority for the release of financial assistance from the NDRF to address drought situations in the state.
In September 2023, the state had sought Rs 18,174 crore from the NDRF to undertake relief measures in drought-stricken regions. Karnataka had identified 223 taluks as drought-affected on September 13, 2023. It further asserted that crop damage had transpired across 48 lakh hectares due to drought, incurring a loss of Rs 35,162 crore.
