BENGALURU: Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said many farmers in the state have committed suicide due to personal reasons. “Inability to repay farm loans is not the only reason for farmers suicides reported in the state,” he said. Speaking to mediapersons, the minister said that it is not right to attribute all cases of suicides to farm loans. To help farmers in distress, the state government has recently announced `44,000 farm loan waiver and modalities are being worked out to implement the same.
Shivakumar said the state government is taking all measures to implement the loan waiver scheme and Chief Minister had discussed it with bankers on Tuesday. The minister appealed to farmers not to take extreme step. “We appeal to farmers not to take the extreme step. Whatever may be the reason, the state government is doing everything possible to address farmers’ problems,” the minister added.
‘Confident of getting favourable verdict’
On Mahadayi inter-state river water sharing row with Goa, Shivakumar said Karnataka is confident of getting a favourable order from the tribunal, which is expected to deliver its verdict next month. Farmers are demanding implementation of the project to provide drinking water to many districts in Mumbai-Karnataka region.
Karnataka wants to use 7.56 tmcft of water from Kalasa and Banduri tributaries of Mahadayi river by diverting to Malaprabha river. The inter-state dispute is pending before the Mahadayi River Water Dispute Tribunal. Shivakumar said the state government has presented all evidence before the tribunal to prove its case and it is confident of getting the verdict in its favour.