Leader of Opposition in the Assembly H D Kumaraswamy has flayed the state government for turning a blind eye to the problems faced by people due to the excessive rainfall in some districts and drought in other districts.
He told reporters here on Friday that according to an estimate, the state has suffered a loss of around Rs 5,000 crore due to the rain and drought in most of the districts. “The government and ministers are not doing anything to mitigate the problems. So far, no meeting of officials has been convened to take stock of the situation,” he added.
According to him, the Revenue, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministers were issuing contradictory statements on the issue of seeking funds from the Union Government to address the problems.
Kumaraswamy said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was holding meetings of officials regularly to overhaul administration. “But the CM has not convened a meeting of his ministers to know what they are doing. A majority of ministers have stopped coming to the Vidhana Soudha and they are not seen even in their constituencies. The CM, if he has any commitment towards people, should track the movements of his ministers and instruct them to be present in their offices daily,” Kumaraswamy said.
According to him, no minister has visited the drought-hit and rain-hit areas to take stock of the situation.
On Siddaramaiah’s China tour, he said: “I do not know which entrepreneur from China will come to Karnataka and invest.”
The Opposition Leader said rains and pests have damaged the arecanut in three districts.
While Dakshina Kannada has suffered a loss of Rs 249 crore, Shimoga Rs 220 crore and the loss in Uttara Kannada is Rs 5.7 crore.