Bengaluru: The Central drought-assessment teams have their four-day visit to the affected areas in Karnataka and will submit the report to the Union Agriculture secretariat in a week, said Minister for Revenue Krishna Byregowda. The minister hoped that the Union Government would render justice to the State in release of funds to tackle the drought situation.
He expressed confidence that the Centre would consider the recommendations of the Central teams which collected details from affected farmers in the drought-hit areas and will release funds sought by the State Government. Karnataka has sought funds to the tune of Rs 4,860 crore from the Union Government.
At a joint press conference with Minister for Agriculture Cheluvarayaswamy in Bengaluru on Monday, Krishna Byregowda said that a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee would be convened in New Delhi and make an appeal for early release of funds.
“We feel that the Central teams are convinced of the impacts of the drought situation after their field visits, interaction with farmers and elected representatives,” said the Minister and added, “The delegation members told him that the situation is serious in Karnataka."
The Central team also studied plant physiology with the help of agricultural scientists and realised that in places like Chitradurga, and Tumakuru among others crop failure is 100 percent, Gowda said.
The Minister said the Central team also suggested to the State Government to consider whether moderately affected taluks could also be brought under severe drought-affected taluks after assessing the situation.
The State Government has declared 195 taluks as drought-hit, said the Revenue Minister and hinted at increasing the number of affected taluks. There are 41 taluks not declared drought-affected in the State and a report has been asked from the Deputy Commissioners after ground verification whether 21 more taluks could be included in the list if they comply with the guidelines framed by the Central Government.
Based on the report from district collectors, a decision will be made on such taluks taluks as drought-affected and thereafter, a supplementary memorandum will be submitted to the Central Government for consideration to release additional funds.
He appealed to the Central Government to release the pending amount of Rs 475 crore under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act so that the government could release the to the labourers who are in distress.
Minister for Agriculture Cheluvarayaswamy stated that the details given to the Central team are clear with facts and figures and expressed confidence that the Central team would respond positively to the State’s request for fund release.
