Central team takes stock of drought situation

The Inter-Ministerial Central Team appointed by the Centre to assess the drought situation across parts of Karnataka, visited some drought-affected villages in Kalghatagi and Hubli taluk on Tuesday and took stock of the situation.

The team, consisting of Kal Singh, director, department of animal husbandry, and Vijay Kumar Bathia, deputy advisor, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, visited Ganjgatti, Bagadageri and Beer- avalli villages in Kalghatagi taluk and Shiraguppi in Hubli taluk.

Kal Singh said, the two teams, after visiting the drought-hit areas in state would sit together and draft a comprehensive report to be submitted to the Central government.
 

Since the drought situation in parts of the district during the Kharif has passed and it is too early to assess the impact of the Rabi crops, the team members had to rely on what the farmers and villagers along with the officers had to say. They were briefed on the water table depleting as a result of which the supply of water could be hit badly in the days to come.

The team found the tank that supplies water to Ganjigatti village dry. The farmers told the team that soyabean crop was damaged during the flowering stage, forcing farmers to uproot their crop and stock it as fodder. Taking advantage of the unexpected rains in September-October the farmers cultivated maize, but are apprehensive about the quantum of yield.

At the nearby Gollanakere village, the team members were informed that the village had been suffering severe drought for last two years and the supply of drinking water was a big problem. Basavaraj Meti, a farmer from Beeravalli, said, the villagers had suffered the loss of paddy crop to the extent of 90 per cent. He also told the team that the farmers, unable to feed their cattle, were resorting to distress sale to slaughter houses. As many as 56 cattle had died due to foot and mouth disease, they said.

At Shiraguppi village, farmers Shivanna Hubballi and Shekanna Badiger explaining the situation, said, they had suffered huge losses of their onion and chilli crops. The officials of horticulture department informed that the area under chilli cultivation and the yield had fallen 25 per cent this year. Last year the area under chilli cultivation was 48,000 acres in Dharwad district.

Earlier, the central team members met officers of the various departments.

At the Deputy Commissioner's office and took stock of the situation.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla, ZP CEO P A Meghannavar and other officials accompanied the team members to various places. The team visited the drought-affected sites in Bailhongal, Saundatti and Ramdurg taluks of Belgaum district on Monday. The state government had declared all taluks in the district, except Athani, as drought-affected.