Open coffers to tackle drought, says BSY
“Karnataka is facing one of the worst droughts in the last 40 years. The state government should immediately release funds from its coffers and rush aid to drought-hit areas instead of waiting for the Centre to release funds,” said former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in his report submitted to Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Sunday
“The government should release Rs 200 crore immediately to revive Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and also urge the Centre to release the pending amount of Rs 400 crore under the scheme. While, Karnataka MPs have already sought Rs 2,600 crore as drought relief from the Centre, an all-party delegation from the state should urge the Centre to release Rs 1,000 crore as first instalment,” said Mr Yeddyurappa, in a six-page report on his four-day tour of Koppal, Gadag, Bijapur, Raichur and Yadgir.
“Most taluks have severe drinking water, power and food crisis which call for immediate steps. All pending drinking water projects should be completed soon. Every taluk should be given Rs 25 lakh for drinking water and every district should be provided Rs 5 crore to deslit lakes to replenish ground water. Besides this, every taluk should be provided 10-15 tankers to supply water. ‘goshalas’ and ‘ganji kendras’ should be set up immediately.” Lauding the government for constituting three teams, headed by ministers, to monitor drought relief works, he felt that owing to severity of the situation, quick measures were necessary.
Post new comment