114 drought-hit taluks in State, says Revenue Minister

State government will need Rs 1,000 crore for relief works

  Close on the heels of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing 98 taluks in the State as drought-hit, Revenue and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad on Sunday said the number of drought-hit taluks had gone up by 16, taking the total number to 114.

“The State government will need Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore to take up relief works”, he said.

Speaking with mediapersons, the minister said that the State was facing severe drought this time and estimates were being prepared to take up relief works like opening of goshalas (cattle feeding centres), creation of jobs, among other measures.

He said the severity of the situation in the State was such that even Virajpet taluk in Kodagu district was affected by drought whereas HD Kote, T Narasipura and Nanjangud taluks in Mysuru district, were also drought-hit.

Report

He further explained that usually the national calamity monitoring cell (NCMC) prepares a report on the drought situation, followed by a visit by the inter-ministerial study team from the Centre.

Even if the Centre fails to act, the State government is duty bound to take up relief works on time.

The exact figure is expected to emerge after the meeting of the Mysuru revenue division that was scheduled to be held on August 17, but was postponed due to the birth centenary celebrations of former chief minister D Devaraj Urs on August 20, Srinivas Prasad said.

Simple Dasara

In the wake of drought and farmers’ suicides, the government has decided to celebrate “Nada Habba” Dasara festival in a simple and traditional manner, the Revenue minister said.

The schedule for the event is yet to be worked out in due consultation with the chief minister, who also hails from Mysuru, the minister added.