Central team begins tour of drought-hit districts

A team of the central government on Wednesday commenced its tour of the State to study the drought conditions and to assess the crop losses suffered by farmers because of scanty rainfall during the Rabi season.

The 10-member team comprising officials of various central ministries - divided into three sub-groups - began the tour of Belagavi and Kalaburagi revenue divisions to study the extent of crop losses. 

The team in Belagavi is headed by K K Mishra, deputy secretary in the ministry of power and comprises Brajesh Srivastava, consultant to the ministry of drinking water and sanitation and Ramakrishna, under secretary to the ministry of rural development. The team, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner N Jayaram, visited various villages including Mohare, Hanabarhatti and Gajamanal in Nesargi hobli of Bailhongal taluk in Belagavi district. It interacted with farmers who explained their plight as they only managed a yield of only 30-40 kg of jowar per acre.

During their visit to Gajamanal village, the team inquired workers over the availability of employment under MGNREGS. The team also visited Chachadi, Tadasalurum and other villages in Savadatti and Ramdurg taluks before heading to Vijayapura district. 

Mishra told reporters, after taking stock of the drought, that the team would hold a high-level meeting with officials in Bengaluru on February 26 to discuss the drought.  He said the situation was alarming. 

Another team in Dharwad

A three-member central team visited Dharwad on Wednesday to assess the impact of drought and Rabi crop loss in the region, reports DHNS from Hubballi.

The team members visited villages in Hubballi, Navalgund and Kundgol taluks, which are among the worst-affected areas. The central team inspected jowar, wheat, bengal gram, safflower, sunflower, cotton, maize and other crops. They took stock of the drinking water crisis in the district where 16 villages of Kundgol and Hubballi taluks are being provided drinking water through tankers. The district administration has sought Rs 126.32 crore to address the effects of drought, including Rs 111.5 crore as compensation for crop loss and Rs two crore for providing drinking water through tankers. Members of Kalasa-Banduri agitation committee blocked the path of the central team at Navalgund, demanding implementation of the Mahadayi project. The protestors let the members go after the intervention of Deputy Commissioner Rajendra Cholan.