'Govt guidelines to co-op banks to waive agri loans'

 Minister for Food and Civil Supplies D N Jeevraj said that the State government will issue guidelines to all the co-operative banks to waive off agriculture loan upto Rs 25,000 borrowed by the farmers. 

Addressing a press meet  here on Wednesday, he said “the State government has already asked details on farm loan from the banks. The guidelines will be issued on loan waiver to all the banks soon.”  The Central government’s promise of Rs 1,400 crore for arecanut growers should not be a ‘promise’ in the election manifesto.

The Centre should come forward to the help of the growers. The State government will provide all help in this regard.  “I have a great respect towards MP Jayaprakash Hegde. What happened to Rs 1,400 crore announced by the Centre before the Loksabha by election?” he asked.  “Don’t make the State government a scapegoat with regard to Tiger project. The Forest Minister has already clarified on the project in the Assembly.

The government has already submitted a proposal to drop Kudremukh and Bhadra reserve forest from the Tiger project list. The tiger project in Bhadra reservoir is of 2001. The State government will  not allow the implementation of Tiger project now.”  He said that Mudigere, Sringeri, Koppa, N R Pura taluks have received good rainfall. Half of Kadur, Tarikere and Chikmagalur have experienced deficit rainfall. There is problems related to drinking water and fodder for cattle in the drought hit taluks.

The officials have been directed to act quickly to solve the problem.  On the direction of the Supreme Court, additional grains will be released to Chitradurga, Davangere, Gulbarga and Raichur districts.

 There is no proposal for releasing additional grains and kerosene to drought hit districts. However, all measures will be taken to ensure that there was regular supply of food grains in drought hit taluks.  “I will give priority to issue BPL ration cards to the eligible beneficiaries. Stringent action will be initiated against those non beneficiaries possessing BPL ration cards,” he said.  

There are 1,71,29,000 ration cards in the district. As many as 33,58,104 persons have not taken photographs for the ration cards. As many as 1,37,71,500 ration cards being used. “As per the family survey of the Central government, there are 1.32 crore families in Karnataka.  However, we have issued additional 5,71,000 ration cards. Bio metric system of weighing machines will be introduced in all the ration shops to bring in transparency in the system. The project has been implemented on pilot basis in Tumkur district,” the minister said. MLA D S Suresh and others were present.