BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led an all-party delegation and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday to seek financial assistance for drought- and flood-hit areas. The CM also sought that the central government release funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
A memorandum submitted to the PM sought `4,702.54 crore for undertaking drought mitigation measures in 139 taluks. Karnataka also sought `386.44 crore for flood relief and the CM sought early release of funds. The government had sought release of the second tranche of payments amounting to `2,856.72 crore in November, but only `250.02 crore for wage component and an additional `5 crore for material cost has been released. The state has sought early release of the remaining funds to enable payment of wages.