Centre must tackle drought: DyCM

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said drought has no longer been the state issue and the Union Government should voluntarily tackle the drought situation as it is a nation problem.

Speaking to reporters here, he said Karnataka often reels under drought as it receives the lowest rainfall after Rajastan, in the country. However, the Centre is doing injustice to Karnataka in releasing drought relief funds. The state has received Rs 943 crore from the Centre for drought relief works whereas Rs 4,000 crore has been granted to Maharashtra. The situation is grim in the state than Maharashtra, Parameshwara said.

While the state government is thinking seriously over how to rid the people of this problem, the Centre has neglected the state. Leaving such issues, media are glorifying the remarks over the fall of the coalition government. it is not a good development, he said.

It is true that Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is bereft of becoming the chief minister. There is a galaxy of leaders in the Congress who are aspiring to be the chief minister, he noted.