Bengaluru, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has canceled his planned two-day visit to New Delhi, which was scheduled to begin on September 7. An official from the Chief Minister’s office confirmed the cancellation on Sunday.
B.S. Sridhar, the Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty, issued a statement regarding the decision. The trip was significant as it aimed to facilitate discussions with the Congress leadership and submit a memorandum to the central government, seeking relief for drought-affected regions in the state.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar reiterated the state government’s commitment to assist farmers impacted by the ongoing drought. On his official X account, he expressed his resolve to alleviate the suffering of farmers, emphasizing that the Congress government stands by them during difficult times. He recently visited Bagalkot district to assess the drought situation firsthand.
Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara indicated that the state government may seek assistance from the central government regarding the drought. He noted that 101 taluks have been declared drought-affected and that assessments will continue over the next 15 days.
Parameshwara mentioned that additional taluks could be added to the drought-affected list based on these evaluations. He stated that the state plans to submit a memorandum related to the drought by the end of September or the first week of October. This memorandum will be based on the assessment of crop losses, followed by visits from central teams to survey the situation and provide necessary aid.
The minister highlighted that ensuring adequate drinking water, fodder for livestock, and job opportunities to prevent migration are the state’s top priorities. He also noted that decisions regarding compensation per acre for farmers will be made soon.
Reflecting on the drought in 2023, Parameshwara recalled that the state incurred an estimated loss of ₹39,000 crores and had requested ₹18,000 crores in relief. He emphasized the importance of avoiding a similar situation this time around, noting that ₹3,500 crores were released following a protest in Delhi, prompted by the Supreme Court’s directives.
Leave a Comment