In a major development reflecting the worsening moisture stress across northern Karnataka, the State Government has officially declared nine taluks of Belagavi district as severely drought-affected for the Kharif 2026 season.
The declaration was issued under Government Order No. RD 586 TNR 2026 (Part 1), dated September 22, 2026, which added 53 taluks across the state to the drought-hit list following a comprehensive scientific assessment and field-level ground truthing.
Nine Belagavi Taluks Classified as ‘Severely Affected’
According to the official annexure, all nine identified taluks in Belagavi district have been categorized under the Severe drought bracket:
- Athani
- Bailhongal
- Belagavi
- Chikkodi
- Kittur (Kittura)
- Mudalagi
- Nippani
- Raibag
- Yaragatti
Assessment and Relief Measures
The declaration follows an assessment carried out by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) evaluating rainfall, dry spells, and soil moisture indicators between June 1 and September 16, 2026. Mandatory indicators and field inspections verified substantial crop damage across rainfed belts, qualifying these taluks for immediate administrative intervention under the Manual for Drought Management.
With the formal classification as “Severe,” the district administration is mandated to roll out emergency relief under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms. Key measures slated for deployment include:
- Drinking Water Arrangements: Providing tanker water supply and drilling emergency borewells in drinking water-stressed pockets.
- Crop Loss Documentation: Joint surveys by revenue and agriculture departments via digital applications to expedite farmer compensation.
- Fodder & Livestock Support: Monitoring cattle feed availability and establishing fodder banks where required to prevent distress sales of livestock.
- Employment Generation: Expanding works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to support agricultural laborers and smallholders impacted by crop failures.
