BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked the district ministers to visit villages and ensure drought relief works are carried out expeditiously. The problem of drinking water and fodder scarcity must be addressed at the earliest, he told them.
Addressing a Congress Legislative Party meeting at Suvarna Vikasa Soudha here, he said the government will do everything possible to generate employment in rural areas and check migration. Announcing that the government has released Rs 60 lakh for each assembly constituency to meet drinking water needs, he said more funds may be released if the situation demands.
When the members pressed for waiving of farm loans, Siddaramaiah said farmers have availed Rs 10,000 crore from co-operative banks and Rs 35,000 crore from commercial banks. Waiving of loans in co-operative banks will only benefit 20 per cent of farmers. He also informed members that the state revenue, through registration, vehicle tax and commercial tax, had dropped by Rs 3,000 crore. It could go up to Rs 8,000 crore by March,2017.
Siddaramaiah said the Centre has been asked to release Rs 4,500 crore to state under National Disaster Relief Fund as 139 taluks are reeling under drought.
“I have sought a meeting with the Prime Minister and plan to take an all-party delegation to Delhi. Modi will be apprised of the ground situation. The state is hit by the worst-ever drought in past four decades,” he added.