BENGALURU: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the State Government has received a ground-truthing report from 102 taluks and a decision on declaring drought will be taken after discussing it in the next cabinet meeting.
Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, the DyCM said they are reviewing the situation every week and that a drought will be declared based on all parameters set by the Union Government. He said BJP leaders had also visited drought-hit districts, but they did not discuss it during the recent session. Instead of discussing crop loss, drinking water scarcity and other issues, the opposition resorted to politics during the session, he said.
On Siddaramaiah’s remarks, Parameshwara said that at the time of his resignation, the former Chief Minister told the high command to make him CM, but the high command did not consider it. After that, the former CM asked the party central leaders to make him DyCM, he said. Siddaramaiah had stated that the high command wanted to make four to five DyCMs, but he had insisted on making only Dr Parameshwara the DyCM.
CM DK Shivakumar may discuss the developments in the state with the party high command during his visit to the national capital on Thursday and take a decision, he said. He was responding to a question on speculations over minister B Nagendra’s resignation. He said Nagendra’s name is not in any chargesheet. The cabinet will discuss and decide on the CBI seeking the Governor’s permission to prosecute the minister. he said, adding that the BJP is planning to take out a padayatra on the issue for political reasons.
Responding to a question on opposition to the proposed law to use 5% of land in parks for projects, the DyCM said it was not for commercial purposes, and the provision has been made only for using it for public purposes.
Declare drought: BJP to govt
Chief Whip of the Opposition in the Legislative Council N Ravi Kumar said the ministers are talking about the drought situation, but they have not declared a drought. He said the government must give Rs 50,000 per acre compensation to farmers for the crop loss.
On the issue of utilising parks for developmental activities, the BJP leader urged Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot not to give assent to the bill that was passed in the Legislature recently. “The proposal to utilise parks is anti-people. It is against ecology and environment. It eats up the lung space that will have an adverse impact on fragile ecology. Rejection of the bill is in the interest of the people,” Ravi Kumar said.
