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Criticising the State government for leaving Kalaburagi out of the drought-affected areas list despite a severe rainfall deficit, the BJP will stage a protest in the city on Wednesday and has given the State government eight days deadline to declare the district drought-hit, failing which it has threatened a ‘Kalaburagi bandh’.

Mr. Telkur accused the three Ministers from Kalaburagi district of failing to secure its inclusion on the drought-hit list. He alleged that the Ministers were more concerned about securing a place in the first round of the proposed Cabinet expansion than addressing the distress of farmers.

He questioned the basis for calculating the district’s overall rainfall deficit at only 20% by including rainfall received between January and May, despite substantial deficits between June and August.

According to Agriculture Department data, the district received 352.4 mm of rainfall against the normal 438.2 mm between January 1 and August 24. The deficit was 36% in June, 35% in July and 52% in August. “Despite these figures, why has the district not been declared drought-hit?” Mr. Telkur asked.

Citing the NDRF norms, he said action should be initiated to declare drought when rainfall deficiency exceeds 30%.

Mr. Telkur also disputed the Agriculture Department’s claim that 86% of the targeted area had been sown. While official figures put red gram sowing at 85% of the target, he claimed that farmers had actually sown the crop on less than 50% of the targeted area, with nearly 40% of the crop requiring re-sowing twice or thrice.

Similarly, against official figures of 64% for black gram and 74% for green gram, he claimed the actual coverage was less than 20% of the respective targets.

Of the 1,21,616 tonnes of fertilizer supplied to the district, 76,242 tonnes had been distributed, leaving 45,374 tonnes in stock. Mr. Telkur alleged that some Congress workers were diverting fertilizer to the black market despite adequate supplies and demanded action against those involved.

The BJP will take out a march from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday.

Mr. Jadhav alleged that authorities had failed to verify the functioning of rainfall measurement centres. Former MLA Dattatreya Patil Revoor demanded ₹50,000 per acre in compensation and a farm loan waiver, and said the government should also address the drinking water shortage in the city.

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