Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday directed district in-charge ministers to tour the drought-hit areas in the respective districts and make arrangements to supply drinking water and fodder to the cattle and also create job opportunities for the labourers in rural areas.
Speaking at Congress Legislature party meet at Belagavi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there was no shortage for funds to take up drought relief works on a priority basis. “We have taken all measures to supply drinking water and fodder to cattle. The government has released the funds to the Deputy Commissioners to take up drought relief works,” the chief minister said.
According to reliable sources, many Congress legislators wanted the government to waive off Rs 25,000 agri loans availed by the farmers in drought-hit areas. The Congress legislators said farmers in their constituencies have been demanding the waiving off agri loans. They opined that government should take measures to waive off agri loans without any delay in the interest of farmers who have incurred a huge loss due to the drought. They wanted the government to release Rs 300 crore to supply drinking water in drought-hit areas and dig borewells wherever it is necessary and repair the defunct borewells to mitigate water woes in rural areas.
The Congress legislators wanted the government to organize Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meetings at all taluks apart from districts. They demanded the Chief Minister to sanction 500 houses for each Assembly segment for the benefit poor.
The sources said the chief minister had assured the legislators to take a decision on waiving agri loans after consulting officials. “As of now I am not in a position to give an assurance on waiving off agri loans since I am not sure on how to provide funds for this purpose,” the chief minister said.
