Siddarth Sethia
*₹1 Crore for Each Taluk to Ensure Adequate Drinking-Water Supply.
*Steps to Distribute Title Deeds to 1.9 Lakh Beneficiaries in Revenue Villages:DCM Dr.G.Parameshwara.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Dr.G. Parameshwara said that ₹1 crore is being provided to each taluk to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water.
Officials have been strictly directed to address the drought situation on priority and ensure that people do not face any hardship.
He was speaking to the media after chairing a progress review meeting on the drought situation and revenue-related matters at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Chikkaballapur today.
“The Personal Deposit (PD) account of the Chikkaballapur Deputy Commissioner has ₹11 crore available.
Officials have been directed to utilise these funds,as required,to provide drinking water to people and livestock.
Fodder-seed kits have also been distributed to farmers across the district.If farmers cultivate surplus fodder,the Government will procure it from them at an appropriate price,”he said.
Dr. Parameshwara said that funds would be provided for the VB–G RAM G Scheme and that there was no shortage of money for its implementation.
“The district has extensive horticultural cultivation, particularly sericulture and floriculture.Officials have been instructed to encourage and support these activities,”he said.
He said that nearly 80 lakes were being filled with water. Legislators had suggested supplying water after tertiary treatment.
“The proposal is being discussed at the Government level.It will be examined, and the necessary action will be taken,” he said.
Dr.Parameshwara directed officials to treat the drought situation with the utmost seriousness and work accordingly.
Strict instructions were also issued to increase the enrolment of farmers under crop insurance schemes.
“I have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,the Union Home Minister and the Union Agriculture Minister, urging them to respond to the situation prevailing in the State,”he said.
He said that the Union Government had prescribed certain norms for declaring drought and urged that these norms be relaxed.
“States across the country are facing drought conditions.I have written to the Union Government requesting that the situation be declared a national disaster and that NDRF funds be released without delay.
A detailed report on the extent of losses caused by the drought in Karnataka and the amount of relief required will be submitted to the Union Government,”he said.
Dr. Parameshwara said that 35,000 e-Pauti cases were pending in Chikkaballapur district and directed officials to clear them within two months.
“Title deeds must be distributed to 1.9 lakh beneficiaries in revenue villages.The Chief Minister will attend the title-deed distribution programme, and officials have been instructed to organise it on a large scale,”he said.
Responding to a media question about banks issuing notices to farmers,he said that a meeting with representatives of the banks would be convened shortly.
“Agricultural activities have come to a standstill because of the drought.The banks will be instructed to ensure that farmers are not subjected to any hardship,”he said.
Responding to Leader of the Opposition R.Ashoka’s allegation that the Government lacked concern for farmers,Dr.Parameshwara said that Mr.Ashoka was not adequately informed about the measures being taken.
“The Chief Minister,D.K.Shivakumar,and I will provide details of the number of meetings we have held on the drought situation.
In view of the drought,the Chief Minister has undertaken visits and chaired review meetings for the Kalaburagi and Belagavi revenue divisions.R.Ashoka should obtain the facts before making such statements,”he said.
Chikkaballapur MLA,Pradeep Eshwar,Gauribidanur MLA, K.H.Puttaswamy Gowda,Sidlaghatta MLA,B.N. Ravikumar,Chikkaballapur District In-charge Secretary,Dr. N.Manjula,State Disaster Management Secretary,Manoj Kumar Meena,Deputy Commissioner,G.Prabhu,Zilla Panchayat CEO,Naveen Bhat,District Guarantee Implementation Committee Chairman,Yaluvahalli Ramesh and other officials were present at the meeting.
