K'taka CM discusses drought with state MPs

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today discussed the severe drought situation prevailing in the state with all state MPs and also reviewed pending projects.
Out of 40 Members of Parliament from the state, 27 members belonging to Congress, BJP and JDS attended the over hour-long meeting.
Senior BJP leaders, Union Fertiliser Minister Ananth Kumar, D V Sadananda Gowda and Congress leaders M Mallikarjun Kharge, M Veerappa Moily and K Rehman Khan among others were present in the meeting.
According to sources, the Chief Minister shared with the leaders discussions on drought that took place in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He informed MPs that the state government has sought additional central assistance of Rs 12,272 crore to address the drinking water and fodder supply situation.
Siddaramaiah also shared with them the demand he made before the PM to take measures for early release of the central assistance of Rs 723 crore already approved for losses incurred during the rabi season of the 2015-16 crop year (July-June).

Sources also mentioned that the Chief Minister reviewed all pending projects of the state with the MPs.
The Centre has already released Rs 1,540 crore relief for the state, which has already been disbursed to the bank accounts of the farmers.

The state has declared 137 taluks of 27 districts as drought-affected during the kharif and rabi season of the 2015-16 crop year due to poor monsoon.