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Rajnath assures speedy release of drought relief to Karnataka

Last Updated 09 December 2016, 20:09 IST

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday promised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that the Centre will take a decision soon on releasing funds to state to take up relief works in drought and flood hit areas.

Siddaramaiah, who met Singh here, told reporters that the Union Minister has promised to release the fund at the earliest.

 The chief minister, who sought over Rs 5,000 crore to the state for taking up drought and flood relief, explained to Singh the impact of the natural calamities on agriculture. He said the state had already submitted a memorandum seeking a Central aid of Rs 4,702 crore for drought-hit farmers in the 2016 kharif season and Rs 386 crore to take up relief works in flood-hit areas.

A Central team, which visited the state last month to assess the situation, has already submitted its report. Based on the report, the Agriculture Ministry has prepared a note.

In a separate meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, the chief minister urged him to announce a bonus of Rs 700 per quintal over and above the support price for the millets to promote their cultivation.

 The Central government has already declared the minimum support price (MSP) for ragi at Rs 1,725/quintal, jowar hybrid at Rs 1,625/quintal and jowar Maldani at Rs 1,650/quintal for the 2016-17 crop year (July-June).

 “We strongly urge an enhancement of MSP for ragi and jowar for this season. Since MSP has already been announced, at this stage declaration of bonus can be considered as an option,” Siddaramaiah said.

In a representation made to the Agriculture Ministry, Siddaramaiah said that the state wants to promote production of these two nutri-cereals, which are ‘climate smart crops’ and can be grown in rainfed and drought-prone areas.

State to file review plea on Cauvery

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the state government will file a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking a modification of its order that Karnataka continue to release 2,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day. “Legal experts will be consulted in this regard,” he said. Siddaramaiah, however, welcomed the Supreme Court decision that it had Constitutional powers to hear the appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award.

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(Published 09 December 2016, 20:08 IST)

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