Bengaluru: The state government has declared 68 taluks in 22 districts drought-hit due to the failure of monsoon.

Speaking with media persons, T B Jayachandra, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, said these 68 taluks are in south and north Karnataka. “These taluks had 20 per cent deficient rainfall, low soil moisture (less than 50 per cent), loss of more than 30 per cent of crop and dry spell for four weeks in a row,’’ Jayachandra said.

The report on drought was placed before the Cabinet on Wednesday. The state government is yet to take a decision on the quantum of compensation to be paid to the farmers for crop loss due to the drought.

Tur dal for BPL families

The Cabinet has decided to provide a kg of tur dal to below poverty line ration cardholders at a price of Rs. 30 per kg each month. It would cost the Exchequer Rs. 360 crore per year.

The Cabinet decided to set up a centre of excellence at sub-centres of the Government Tool Room and Training Centres in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Kalaburagi and Dandeli. A private firm would support upgrading works. The estimated cost of upgrading is Rs. 2,031 crore.

It was decided to extend the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme across the State for disbursement of subsidy under the Union government schemes. This would help plug leakage in the disbursement of subsidy, the Minister said.

The Cabinet approved the Karnataka State (Forensic Science Laboratory Services) Recruitment Rules, 2016. Administrative approval was also given for construction of eight police stations, one circle office and one sub-division office under the police modernisation scheme at an estimated cost of Rs. 144.11 crore. The work on the police stations would commence this year, he said.