<p>Former minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the Congress government has failed to take up relief measures in the drought-affected districts in the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters after assessing the drought conditions in several villages in the taluk, the former minister said, "The state government had declared 136 taluks as drought-hit six months back but no measures have been taken up to mitigate drought conditions. Siddaramaiah-led government has not utilised Rs 320 crore released by the Centre for taking up relief works in the drought-hit areas," he complained.<br /><br />The state has failed to utilise Rs 1,540 crore released by the Centre for crop insurance, Bommai alleged.<br /><br />The state government claims that it has released Rs 214 crore for drought relief works, Rs 171 crore was sanctioned to Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation department and Rs 68 crore to Revenue department. But in reality, it has only released Rs 50 lakh to each Assembly constituency and nothing more, Bommai said.<br /><br />He further added that Rs 214 crore is languishing in the accounts of deputy commissioners because of indifferent attitude of the government.<br /><br />The people of parched districts in Central Karnataka are reeling under severe drought conditions. Drinking water problem has reached alarming proportions. There is acute shortage of fodder owing to the failure of rabi and kharrif crops. The people in rural areas are migrating to towns and cities for livelihood. It is unfortunate that the government and the officials are not taking any concrete measures to mitigate the drought conditions, the former minister said.<br /><br />The incidence of fluoride in groundwater in Sira, Pavagad, Madhugiri and Koratagere taluks is very high. Because of which, the people here are exposed to health hazards. The chief minister should assess the situation personally and come up with measures to address it, Bommai said. He urged the government to speed up the project to release river water to Madaluru tank.<br /><br />Bommai said that the drought assessment teams would submit a report to deputy commissioner, state government and the Centre and would seek for additional grants for taking up relief works. <br /></p>
<p>Former minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that the Congress government has failed to take up relief measures in the drought-affected districts in the state.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to reporters after assessing the drought conditions in several villages in the taluk, the former minister said, "The state government had declared 136 taluks as drought-hit six months back but no measures have been taken up to mitigate drought conditions. Siddaramaiah-led government has not utilised Rs 320 crore released by the Centre for taking up relief works in the drought-hit areas," he complained.<br /><br />The state has failed to utilise Rs 1,540 crore released by the Centre for crop insurance, Bommai alleged.<br /><br />The state government claims that it has released Rs 214 crore for drought relief works, Rs 171 crore was sanctioned to Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation department and Rs 68 crore to Revenue department. But in reality, it has only released Rs 50 lakh to each Assembly constituency and nothing more, Bommai said.<br /><br />He further added that Rs 214 crore is languishing in the accounts of deputy commissioners because of indifferent attitude of the government.<br /><br />The people of parched districts in Central Karnataka are reeling under severe drought conditions. Drinking water problem has reached alarming proportions. There is acute shortage of fodder owing to the failure of rabi and kharrif crops. The people in rural areas are migrating to towns and cities for livelihood. It is unfortunate that the government and the officials are not taking any concrete measures to mitigate the drought conditions, the former minister said.<br /><br />The incidence of fluoride in groundwater in Sira, Pavagad, Madhugiri and Koratagere taluks is very high. Because of which, the people here are exposed to health hazards. The chief minister should assess the situation personally and come up with measures to address it, Bommai said. He urged the government to speed up the project to release river water to Madaluru tank.<br /><br />Bommai said that the drought assessment teams would submit a report to deputy commissioner, state government and the Centre and would seek for additional grants for taking up relief works. <br /></p>
