Performance Audit on Disaster Management in Karnataka (2018-23)

CAG Performance Audit Report No. 8 of 2025 on Disaster Management in Karnataka (period 2018-23). Karnataka experienced floods every year from 2018 to 2022 and drought was declared in 2022-23 -- causing an estimated crop loss of ₹65,594 crore. Personnel manning disaster management: shortage of 67-96% against sanctioned strength. House damage for reconstruction: 1,10,407 cases approved during 2019-23; 22,496 cases (20%) with construction not commenced despite ₹213.94 crore already paid. SDRF utilisation: ₹23.68 crore and ₹7.69 crore utilised. ₹18.59 lakh misappropriated in Chintamani taluk. ₹1.81 crore paid incorrectly by Haveri district taluks. Flood forecasting: ₹2.45 crore investment rendered ineffective (25 early warning systems not achieving forecasting capability). ₹6.25 crore expenditure on a structure that remained on a vulnerable site and insecure. 43-52% of disaster-monitoring instruments were defective.

State: Karnataka
Audit period: 1 Apr 2018 — 31 Mar 2023
Presented: 17 Dec 2025

Findings

Karnataka paid ₹213.94 crore as advance for flood-damaged house reconstruction to 22,496 families -- but construction has not commenced in any of these cases. These flood victims received the payment (possibly spent it on survival needs) but remain without rebuilt homes, exposed to the next flood season. This is catastrophic implementation failure in post-disaster rehabilitation.
“house damage for reconstruction during 2019-23, construction had not commenced in 22,496 cases (20 per cent) for which a total of Rs.213.94 crore was already paid”House Damage Reconstruction · p. 15
Karnataka faced floods every year from 2018 to 2022 and a severe drought in 2022-23 causing ₹65,594 crore in crop losses -- yet disaster management personnel strength ranged from just 4-33% of sanctioned levels. A state that experiences annual disasters is functionally operating without a disaster management system.
“major disasters during the years 2018 to 2023 with floods occurring every year from 2018 to 2022. declared drought affected causing an estimated crop loss of Rs. 65,594 crore. ranging from 67 to 96 per cent of the sanctioned strength”Disaster Profile · p. 5
43-52% of disaster monitoring instruments were defective during the period when Karnataka was experiencing its most severe flood seasons in decades. ₹2.45 crore was invested in a flood early warning system that never achieved its objective -- Karnataka's flood-affected communities had neither the monitoring nor the warning systems to protect themselves.
“percentage of defective instruments was 43 per cent and 52 per cent respectively. flood early warning through a wireless broadcasting system was not achieved. rendering the investment of Rs.2.45 crore”Monitoring · p. 12
₹18.59 lakh was misappropriated in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapura district from SDRF funds; ₹1.81 crore was incorrectly paid by Haveri district taluks. Misappropriation and irregular payment from disaster relief funds -- money meant for flood and drought victims -- represents a serious criminal and governance failure.
“misappropriation of funds of Rs.18.59 lakh during 2017-18, at Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapura district. Further, Rs.1.81 crore was paid by taluks of Haveri district”Fund Misuse · p. 13
₹213.94 crore paid for 22,496 cases; construction not commencedFlood-hit construction: paid but not built
Of 1,10,407 approved house-damage reconstruction cases (2019-23), 20% not commenced despite advance payment -- flood victims continue living in damaged homes while funds are disbursed
“house damage for reconstruction during 2019-23, construction had not commenced in 22,496 cases (20 per cent) for which a total of Rs.213.94 crore was already paid”House Damage Reconstruction · p. 15
Estimated ₹65,594 crore crop lossDrought-declared crop loss (2022-23)
Drought declared across multiple districts causing massive agricultural losses in one of India's largest agricultural states
“declared drought affected causing an estimated crop loss of Rs. 65,594 crore”Disaster Profile · p. 5
67-96% of sanctioned strength; severe shortageDisaster management personnel vacancy
State disaster management capacity was structurally undermined by catastrophic staffing gaps across disaster response institutions
“personnel) ranging from 67 to 96 per cent of the sanctioned strength”Human Resources · p. 10
43% and 52% defective instruments (two categories)Defective disaster-monitoring instruments
Instruments for monitoring flood and disaster parameters were non-functional in nearly half of all units -- Karnataka was flying blind in disaster monitoring during peak flood years
“percentage of defective instruments was 43 per cent and 52 per cent respectively”Monitoring Infrastructure · p. 12
₹2.45 crore investment; 25 early warning systems not achieving capabilityFlood warning investment ineffective
Wireless broadcasting system for flood early warning not achieved; ₹2.45 crore investment wasted while flood frequency increased (every year 2018-2022)
“flood early warning through a wireless broadcasting system was not achieved. Rs.2.45 crore rendering the investment of Rs.2.45 crore”Early Warning · p. 12

Recommendations

Immediately audit all 22,496 cases where ₹213.94 crore was disbursed without construction commencing; recover advances from non-starters and engage new contractors with tight monthly milestones.
Fill all disaster management vacancies as an emergency measure; treat 67-96% vacancy as a national security risk given Karnataka's annual flood cycle.
Replace all 43-52% defective monitoring instruments within 3 months before the next monsoon; commission a separate early warning system audit to identify why ₹2.45 crore investment failed.
Register FIR for ₹18.59 lakh SDRF misappropriation in Chintamani taluk; hold district officials responsible for ₹1.81 crore incorrect Haveri payments.

Performance Audit on Disaster Management in Karnataka (2018-23)

Findings

Karnataka paid ₹213.94 crore as advance for flood-damaged house reconstruction to 22,496 families -- but construction has not commenced in any of these cases. These flood victims received the payment (possibly spent it on survival needs) but remain without rebuilt homes, exposed to the next flood season. This is catastrophic implementation failure in post-disaster rehabilitation.

“house damage for reconstruction during 2019-23, construction had not commenced in 22,496 cases (20 per cent) for which a total of Rs.213.94 crore was already paid”House Damage Reconstruction · p. 15

Karnataka faced floods every year from 2018 to 2022 and a severe drought in 2022-23 causing ₹65,594 crore in crop losses -- yet disaster management personnel strength ranged from just 4-33% of sanctioned levels. A state that experiences annual disasters is functionally operating without a disaster management system.

“major disasters during the years 2018 to 2023 with floods occurring every year from 2018 to 2022. declared drought affected causing an estimated crop loss of Rs. 65,594 crore. ranging from 67 to 96 per cent of the sanctioned strength”Disaster Profile · p. 5

43-52% of disaster monitoring instruments were defective during the period when Karnataka was experiencing its most severe flood seasons in decades. ₹2.45 crore was invested in a flood early warning system that never achieved its objective -- Karnataka's flood-affected communities had neither the monitoring nor the warning systems to protect themselves.

“percentage of defective instruments was 43 per cent and 52 per cent respectively. flood early warning through a wireless broadcasting system was not achieved. rendering the investment of Rs.2.45 crore”Monitoring · p. 12

₹18.59 lakh was misappropriated in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapura district from SDRF funds; ₹1.81 crore was incorrectly paid by Haveri district taluks. Misappropriation and irregular payment from disaster relief funds -- money meant for flood and drought victims -- represents a serious criminal and governance failure.

“misappropriation of funds of Rs.18.59 lakh during 2017-18, at Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapura district. Further, Rs.1.81 crore was paid by taluks of Haveri district”Fund Misuse · p. 13

₹213.94 crore paid for 22,496 cases; construction not commencedFlood-hit construction: paid but not built

Of 1,10,407 approved house-damage reconstruction cases (2019-23), 20% not commenced despite advance payment -- flood victims continue living in damaged homes while funds are disbursed

“house damage for reconstruction during 2019-23, construction had not commenced in 22,496 cases (20 per cent) for which a total of Rs.213.94 crore was already paid”House Damage Reconstruction · p. 15

Estimated ₹65,594 crore crop lossDrought-declared crop loss (2022-23)

Drought declared across multiple districts causing massive agricultural losses in one of India's largest agricultural states

“declared drought affected causing an estimated crop loss of Rs. 65,594 crore”Disaster Profile · p. 5

67-96% of sanctioned strength; severe shortageDisaster management personnel vacancy

State disaster management capacity was structurally undermined by catastrophic staffing gaps across disaster response institutions

“personnel) ranging from 67 to 96 per cent of the sanctioned strength”Human Resources · p. 10

43% and 52% defective instruments (two categories)Defective disaster-monitoring instruments

Instruments for monitoring flood and disaster parameters were non-functional in nearly half of all units -- Karnataka was flying blind in disaster monitoring during peak flood years

“percentage of defective instruments was 43 per cent and 52 per cent respectively”Monitoring Infrastructure · p. 12

₹2.45 crore investment; 25 early warning systems not achieving capabilityFlood warning investment ineffective

Wireless broadcasting system for flood early warning not achieved; ₹2.45 crore investment wasted while flood frequency increased (every year 2018-2022)

“flood early warning through a wireless broadcasting system was not achieved. Rs.2.45 crore rendering the investment of Rs.2.45 crore”Early Warning · p. 12

Recommendations

Immediately audit all 22,496 cases where ₹213.94 crore was disbursed without construction commencing; recover advances from non-starters and engage new contractors with tight monthly milestones.

Fill all disaster management vacancies as an emergency measure; treat 67-96% vacancy as a national security risk given Karnataka's annual flood cycle.

Replace all 43-52% defective monitoring instruments within 3 months before the next monsoon; commission a separate early warning system audit to identify why ₹2.45 crore investment failed.

Register FIR for ₹18.59 lakh SDRF misappropriation in Chintamani taluk; hold district officials responsible for ₹1.81 crore incorrect Haveri payments.