Bangalore: Seeking a bigger aid to help state fight against severe drought, the Karnataka government urged the Centre to provide grants in the wake of the government writing off farm loans.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told reporters here that the state government had requested the Centre to reimburse 75 per cent of the Rs 3,600 crore cooperative farm loans waived off by the government in the wake of drought conditions sweeping most parts of the state.

"We have incurred an outgo of Rs 3600 crore due to writing off up to Rs 25,000 farm loans to 16 lakh farmers.

Similarly, about 18 lakh farmers from our state have availed farm loans from public sector banks amounting to Rs 19,000. The Centre should consider waiving off this as well to help the Karnataka farmers," he said.

He said the Central team led by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar two days ago had been provided with full details of more nearly 145 out of 175 taluks in the state suffering due to lack of rains during the current monsoon.

"We will list urgent works and long time projects need to be taken up in the drought affected districts. Mr Pawar has advised us to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to seek higher grant and we would soon do it and request Dr Singh's intervention," Mr Shettar said.