Karnataka has sought 3,705.30 crore rupees in drought relief from the Centre, and a central team has begun a three-day ground assessment of the damage.Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar placed the request during a meeting with the inter-ministerial central team on October 3. The team, led by Joint Secretary Ajit Kumar Sahu, will tour districts from October 3 to 7.Officials say 217 of the state’s 240 taluks have been declared drought-hit.

Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara said crop losses could reach 50,000 to 60,000 crore rupees once assessments of all taluks are complete.Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has urged the Prime Minister to release the full amount, saying over 31 lakh farming families are affected. He also wants a separate central team for the Kalyana Karnataka region.The state is giving 2,500 rupees per farmer as immediate relief.

The Centre’s team will report back to Delhi before any national disaster fund release is decided.