JOIN USCentral team at Ch'nagar for drought inspection
Team of Central officers which arrived in the district on Wednesday collected the facts of drought related problems in the district.
In the drought review meeting held at deputy commissioner’s office, central team derived problems of drought hit district from deputy commissioner and other district officers.
The district has 350 villages with severe drinking water problem while 25 per cent of the newly drilled borewells have turned out to be a dud.
The list made by Panchayat Raj Engineering Division had 300 villages which faced problem till July end, rose to 350 villages, with failure of rain.
Stating that problems of drinking water is increasing in the district, deputy commissioner K R Sundar said, most of the villages of Chamarajanagar, Kollegal, Hanur and Gundlupet faced the bane.
Elaborating on the funds, he said, out of Rs 12.50 crore sanctioned by government for drought management works, Rs 12.38 crore is being utilised for various projects.
He said that eight goshalaas are opened till now and many more would be opened in near future. The dried up sugarcane crop grown in two thousand hectares of land would be supplied as fodder to goshalaas.
“It has already been discussed with farmers regarding the matter and crop would be purchased fixing price per tonne. Measures would also be taken to supply green fodder to cattle.”
Sundar said, drilling of borewells is stressed to ensure supply of drinking water. About 25 per cent of new borewells have been a failure and water was not available as underground water table has depleted. Three villages of Hanur is being supplied drinking water in collaboration with private companies.
Projects at an estimation of Rs 59 crore is planned under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, he added.
Central officers K Manoharan, D Rajashekar, Sunitha Dhawle and Santhanu Biswas, deputy commissioner K R Sundar, district in charge secretary K Shivaram, agriculture department director Sarvesh, ZP CEO M R Somashekarappa, additional deputy commissioner H T Chandrashekar, A B Basavaraju and others were present.