<p>Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the government would extend the period of crop loan waiver to July 25, 2012. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However, he did not give any assurance to the House on writing off loans taken since April 2011, as demanded by the Opposition. Replying to a debate on drought, Shettar said the government had extended the period so that more farmers in distress could get help.<br /><br />The chief minister, on Tuesday, had announced a Rs 3,500-crore crop loan waiver, expected to provide relief to over 16 lakh drought-hit farmers. <br /><br />Shettar had said farmers who took loans from co-operative institutions between August 2011 and June 2012 would be eligible for the benefit.<br /><br />Deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa told the House that the government had declared 19 more taluks, including four in Bangalore Urban district, drought-hit. With this, the number of drought-hit taluks has gone up to 142, out of a total of 176.<br /><br />The 19 taluks are: Anekal, Bangalore North, Bangalore South, Bangalore East, Hoskote, Nelamangala, Ramanagara, Malur, Chennagiri, Harihar, H D Kote, Hunsur, Gokak, Shikaripura, Shimoga, Bhadravati, Chikmagalur, Tarikere and Alur.<br /><br />The deputy chief minister said the government had issued orders to procure fodder from Punjab and Haryana for distribution in the drought-affected places.<br /><br />Not satisfied with the reply, the Opposition members said the government had failed to announce compensation to farmers who had incurred crop losses in the last one year. <br /><br />In 2011, the Andhra Pradesh government had given a compensation of Rs 10,000 for every affected farmer owning land not more than five acres, they said. <br /><br />Leader of the Opposition S R Patil demanded that the government must announce a special package for farmers in taluks where co-operative societies were defunct and farmers had not raised loans at all. <br /><br />Shettar tried to pacify the agitating members, saying he would lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to seek more funds for drought relief.<br /><br />“We as the State government have been bearing enough load. Let’s talk to the Centre for more help as the drought situation is severe,” he said. The Congress members then staged a walkout. <br /><br />Experts opinion<br /><br />Eshwarappa said the government would go ahead with cloud seeding only after detailed discussions with experts regarding its feasibility. <br /><br />Opposition members raised doubts about the benefits of cloud seeding on which the government was planning to spend Rs five crore.<br /><br /> JD(S) leader Nanaiah wondered whether the initiative would be beneficial when the kharif season was already over. <br /></p>
<p>Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told the Legislative Council on Thursday that the government would extend the period of crop loan waiver to July 25, 2012. <br /><br /></p>.<p>However, he did not give any assurance to the House on writing off loans taken since April 2011, as demanded by the Opposition. Replying to a debate on drought, Shettar said the government had extended the period so that more farmers in distress could get help.<br /><br />The chief minister, on Tuesday, had announced a Rs 3,500-crore crop loan waiver, expected to provide relief to over 16 lakh drought-hit farmers. <br /><br />Shettar had said farmers who took loans from co-operative institutions between August 2011 and June 2012 would be eligible for the benefit.<br /><br />Deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa told the House that the government had declared 19 more taluks, including four in Bangalore Urban district, drought-hit. With this, the number of drought-hit taluks has gone up to 142, out of a total of 176.<br /><br />The 19 taluks are: Anekal, Bangalore North, Bangalore South, Bangalore East, Hoskote, Nelamangala, Ramanagara, Malur, Chennagiri, Harihar, H D Kote, Hunsur, Gokak, Shikaripura, Shimoga, Bhadravati, Chikmagalur, Tarikere and Alur.<br /><br />The deputy chief minister said the government had issued orders to procure fodder from Punjab and Haryana for distribution in the drought-affected places.<br /><br />Not satisfied with the reply, the Opposition members said the government had failed to announce compensation to farmers who had incurred crop losses in the last one year. <br /><br />In 2011, the Andhra Pradesh government had given a compensation of Rs 10,000 for every affected farmer owning land not more than five acres, they said. <br /><br />Leader of the Opposition S R Patil demanded that the government must announce a special package for farmers in taluks where co-operative societies were defunct and farmers had not raised loans at all. <br /><br />Shettar tried to pacify the agitating members, saying he would lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to seek more funds for drought relief.<br /><br />“We as the State government have been bearing enough load. Let’s talk to the Centre for more help as the drought situation is severe,” he said. The Congress members then staged a walkout. <br /><br />Experts opinion<br /><br />Eshwarappa said the government would go ahead with cloud seeding only after detailed discussions with experts regarding its feasibility. <br /><br />Opposition members raised doubts about the benefits of cloud seeding on which the government was planning to spend Rs five crore.<br /><br /> JD(S) leader Nanaiah wondered whether the initiative would be beneficial when the kharif season was already over. <br /></p>
