Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said on Saturday that he was contemplating to lead a delegation of leaders of all parties to New Delhi in order to step up pressure on the Union government for release of funds for implementation of relief and rehabilitation schemes in drought-hit districts of the state.
Speaking to the media after a meeting with officers from Delhi, he said “the Central team, which visited the state during the last three days, has assured us that they will submit a report to the Union government in three or four days. If the Union government fails to respond positively to our request for more funds even after this team submits its report, we will take an all-party delegation to Delhi in a couple of days.”
During the meeting on Saturday, the chief minister reportedly told the officers that the state government had instructed authorities in drought-affected districts to provide sufficient drinking water and fodder. “During my discussion with them, they (officers from Delhi) were convinced of the severity of drinking water problem in drought-hit areas. The Central team has said that migration in north Karnataka region was not because of drought”, Mr Shettar added The Central team got a first-hand account of problems faced by people in drought-affected districts.