First Phase of Drought Relief to Begin Immediately: Dr. G.Parameshwara

*Drought Relief Reports to Be Submitted to Centre in Phases.

*All-Party Delegation Being Planned to Seek Additional Relief: DyCM.

*Belagavi:Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara said drought relief measures will begin immediately.

The Agriculture,Revenue, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Departments are jointly preparing the framework for relief measures and have been instructed to commence work without delay.

Speaking to the media after attending the 26th Annual Convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Belagavi,he said assistance is currently being provided as the first instalment of drought relief.

He clarified that this is not the final relief package.The first instalment is being provided with the objective of extending immediate assistance to farmers and drought-affected areas.

The State Government has already submitted a request to the Union Government for the first instalment of relief.

Based on the 101 drought-affected taluks,the estimated loss is around Rs.18,000 crore,and the State has sought approximately Rs.3,500 crore in assistance in the first phase.The amount of assistance to be provided will be decided by the Union Government,he said.

He said further memoranda relating to the second and third phases of drought relief will also be submitted shortly.

An additional 77-point report has already been prepared and will be submitted to the Centre.Another 50-point report will be prepared in the next phase.

All these reports will be consolidated to comprehensively present the State’s losses and relief requirements before the Union Government.

He said efforts are being made, under the leadership of Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar, to take an all-party delegation comprising key leaders of the State to the Centre.

The delegation will meet the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister and seek additional relief.As disaster management falls under the purview of the Union Home Ministry,the delegation will also explain the State’s situation to the Home Minister.Further relief measures will depend on the extent of assistance received from the Centre,he said.

Continuous Pressure to Relax NDRF Guidelines:

The State Government has consistently urged the Union Government to revise the guidelines of the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

Around 10 to 11 letters have already been written to the Centre in this regard. Dr.Parameshwara said former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah,present Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar,Minister Krishna Byre Gowda,and he himself have written to the Union Government seeking changes to the guidelines.

Dr.Parameshwara said the Union Government may be reluctant to revise the existing guidelines because such changes could enable States to declare drought over a wider area and seek greater relief,requiring the Centre to provide more funds.

However,as farmers and people in drought-affected areas require immediate assistance,the State Government will continue to exert pressure on the Centre, he said.