Cong team visits drought hit taluk

The Congress leaders, who visited drought-hit Jodi Thimmapura in Birur, were shocked to see the situation wherein people were struggling to get a pot of water.

The team had visited the region to assess the drought situation. The team included Opposition leader in the Council Motamma, MLA Narendrababu, MLC R V Venkatesh, Gayathri Shanthe Gowda, former MLA K B Mallikarjuna, DCC President M L Murthy.

The team visited several villages in Kadur and Birur. Several pots of water being carried in bullock carts and people waiting near a borewell was a common scene at Birur. When Motamma asked why water is carried in bullock carts, the villagers said water and power are expensive in our taluk. We have only two borewells in the village to supply drinking water.

Hundreds of men and women aired their grievances with the team. Motamma directed Tahsildar B R Roopa to solve the problems related to supply of drinking water immediately. Measures should be taken to supply water within a week.

Women alleged that the funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was not utilised effectively in the taluk. Gram Panchayat Secretary is not responding to our problems. We have to wait for water in a queue for hours together by leaving all our other work. MLA had not visited us after the election, they said.

The team also visited coconut and arecanut fields affected with the drought.