Drought situation easing in State after heavy rains, says CM

Speaking to reporters after holding a video conference with the DCs and the CEOs of districts, he said drinking water and fodder are available in almost all places. Agriculture activities have now picked up in places that had been declared  drought-hit, he added.
From June 1 to September 8, as many as 94 taluks have received 20 per cent excess rains, 76 taluks have received normal rainfall, and six taluks have received 20 per cent less than normal rains.

“As a result, all reservoirs are full and people in drought-affected places have got a major relief,” he stated.
However, the delayed rains have not been of any help to farmers as the kharif crops have been damaged. Though the Central team inspected the drought-hit places, the Centre has not yet released any funds to the State, the CM said.
The DCs of Bidar, Gulbarga, Kolar and Tumkur districts, which are worst affected, said there has been good rains in the last few days.

Power cut
The Kolar DC drew the CM’s attention to frequent load-shedding in the district. He said the power utility is supplying for only six hours a day. RDPR Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that that due to power cuts, it has been difficult for panchayats to pump underground water in Kolar.

KPTCL MD Latha Krishna Rao intervened to say that seven hours single phase and seven hours three phase power is being supplied everywhere.
“Due to overloading, some transformers might have tripped, leading to power cuts. The KPTCL will repair such transformers,” she added.

The Tumkur Deputy Commissioner brought to the Chief Minister ’s notice the fact that nearly 80 per cent of BPL ration cards in the district are bogus. “People protesting when officials take action against bogus card holders,” he added.
The CM  directed the DC to weed out all bogus cards.