CM asks Centre to write off farm loans

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has urged the Centre to waive  loans taken by farmers from nationalised banks.

The chief minister, who is in the district to assess the drought, told reporters on Tuesday that the State government had written off farm loans to the extent of Rs 35,000 borrowed from co-operative institutions. Shettar asked the Centre to follow suit and come to the rescue of drought-hit farmers.

A total of 18 lakh farmers had availed loans to the tune of Rs 19,000 crore from nationalised banks. Shettar said an appeal had been made to Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar that the Centre also waive farm loans.

He said a review of the drought relief works had been conducted in the districts of Bijapur and Bagalkot. Goshalas (cowsheds) had been set up in Tumkur district too to protect the livestock.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa demanded that the Centre should release Rs 1,000 crore to tackle drought in the State.

Yeddyurappa began his visit to drought-hit areas of the State at the Chennakeshava temple at Kaidala, after a visit to the Siddaganga Mutt, where he took the blessings of Shivakumara Swami.

The former chief minister and Eshwarappa later visited the goshala at Kaidala and took information on the drought relief works.

Later, Yeddyurappa went ahead with the visit of drought-hit areas in Koratagere, Madhugiri and Pavagad taluks.

DVS tour

A BJP team led by former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda will commence its drought assessment tour from August 28 from Mysore after performing pooja to godess Chamundeshwari in the city. Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa and other ministers are scheduled to accompany Gowda.

From Mysore, the team will travel to Kodagu and Ramanagar, Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir and Raichur districts in the first phase.

In the second phase, the team is scheduled to tour Shimoga, Davangere and Bellary districts, according to the party sources.