JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy demands ₹25,000 per acre compensation for rain-hit farmers in Karnataka

Nikhil Kumaraswamy, State president of youth wing of Janata Dal (Secular), accused the State Government of ‘complete indifference’ towards farmers reeling under crop loss due to heavy rains in Kalyana Karnataka. He urged the government to immediately announce a compensation of ₹25,000 per acre for affected farmers.

“Heavy rains since August have damaged crops across one lakh hectares in the region, including red gram, black gram and green gram crops. Kalaburagi alone has seen devastation of nearly 50,000 hectares of red gram. Farmers who take loans every season and sow multiple crops are now unable to even harvest a few quintals. They deserve at least ₹25,000 per acre as compensation,” Mr. Nikhil said at a media conference in Kalaburagi on September 16.

Accusing the State Government of being all about announcements with zero delivery on the ground., he said that either the treasury is empty or the government does not have the will to act.

“Farmers are losing their livelihood while the government remains indifferent,” he said.

Mr. Nikhil questioned why Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy did not visit flood-hit farmers in Kalaburagi.

“Is he [Cheluvarayaswamy] a minister for his own Assembly constituency or for entire State? Standing crops on large tracts of land were destroyed by rain. Over 100 cattle have died. The Chief Minister has only held a video conference meeting. The Agriculture Minister has not visited the rain-hit areas,” he said.

Criticism of KKRDB

Accusing the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) of becoming a hub of ‘commission politics’, Mr. Nikhil alleged that 30% of its projects are being handed over to contractors for kickbacks. “KKRDB exists only to mint money. When it comes to development, they just push its name forward. But ground realities tell a different story. Kalaburagi’s roads are filled with potholes. Forget new roads, let them at least start by filling the craters,” he said adding that KKRDB had failed to even repair roads, let alone bring welfare to Kalyana Karnataka.

Senior party leaders, including Doddappagowda Naribol, Balraj Guttedar, Shivkumar Natikar, and Krishnareddy, were present.