Ex-CM, DyCM slam Centre

Former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda and deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa slammed the Centre for failing to release funds for taking up drought relief work.

Addressing mediapersons at Chamundi Hill here on Tuesday, Gowda said that four Central teams had visited the state to inspect the drought situation. But, only Rs 700 crore has been released, whereas the state needs Rs 11,200 crore.

Gowda slammed Congress and JD(S) leaders for making negative comments about drought tours being taken up in the state. Gowda said he would tour the state and visit various regions including Ramanagar, Yadgir to learn about the problems being faced by people owing to drought.

Eshwarappa blamed the Congress for failing to take up the issue of releasing funds from the Centre. With the central government being headed by Congress, he sought to know why the party leaders here are failing to raise the issue. Everybody knows that the state is suffering from the worst drought in 40 years. Even Sharad Pawar had accepted that in Parliament. But the Centre is yet to release funds. It is not enough for Jairam Ramesh or any other central team to just visit the state. They need to release funds, he added.

Recently at drought meetings held in Hassan and Kolar, the MLAs have expressed their appreciation of the work being carried out by the state government. Eshwarappa said the government was responding to demands of all MLAs and elected representatives.