Crime rising, peace a priority: CM
A few days after asserting in the legislature that there was nothing wrong with the law and order situation, reality seems to have dawned on Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar who admitted during his Independence Day address that the situation in Bengaluru and Mangalore was a reason for concern.
Earlier, Governor H.R. Bhardwaj too had expressed fear over the rising number of murders in Bengaluru. In an indirect reference to the crime rate in the city and the Mangalore home stay attack, the CM said restoring peace was his top priority.
“The recent incidents of crime in Bengaluru city and Mangalore are a cause for worry. The police handled these incidents without allowing the situation to get worse. The culprits have been rounded up and investigations are on. We have instructed the police to prevent any untoward incident. I appeal to the public to be vigilant and co-operate with the police to prevent crime”, said the CM.
He also spoke about the severe drought affecting the state for the second consecutive year, which has affected both the Kharif and Rabi crop. “The monsoon has completely failed. We are facing the worst drought in the last forty years. However, a few reservoirs are full while the water level in the others is increasing due to rains in the last two weeks,” he said.
With the Kharif crop a failure, employment for the needy, supply of water to people and fodder for animals is the government’s priority, the CM said, adding the government has so far spent over Rs 2,250 crore for drought relief measures. The government has further decided to waive loans upto Rs 25,000 availed by farmers from banks. This decision to waive loans would cost the state exchequer Rs 3,600 crore and would benefit 16 lakh farmers, he said.
The state has requested the Centre to sanction Rs 11,849 crore to finance short-term and long-term drought relief measures. The government has declared 2011- 2020 as Irrigation Decade. Approval has been given to scheme B under Upper Krishna Project to provide irrigation facilities to 13 lakh acres, the CM said.
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