State has worst drought in 40 yrs

Loss estimated at Rs 5,800 cr

Leader of Opposition Congress in Karnataka legislative assembly Siddaramaiah on Thursday strongly criticised the ruling Bharatitya Janata Party (BJP) government for being “irresponsible” in tackling the drought in the state. Instead of taking adequate remedial measures, leaders of the ruling BJP were busy in securing power for themselves, he said.

Initiating a debate in the Legislative Assembly on drought and drinking water shortage issue on the opening day of the 8-day legislative session on Thursday, Siddaramaiah said, “The state is passing through an unprecedented drought in the last four decades. There is no drinking water in many places including Bangalore, no fodder for cattle. The rainfall deficit is 43 per cent till now across the state and 90 per cent of the crops have been damaged.”

 

As of July 16 this year the state as a whole should have received 336 mm of rain, but only 191 mm rain has been received, leaving a deficit of 43 per cent. “Instead of tackling this drought on a war footing, the BJP leaders were busy in power struggle. It is an irresponsible government,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said if the state does not receive sufficient rains by end of July, it would be worse situation in the state as the sowing would be over by first week of August. The people from rural areas are migrating to other areas seeking employment while there is also fodder shortage. “Even cattle are migrating to forest areas in search of fodder and farmers are following their cattle to the forests to take care of them,” he noted.

He also took a serious objection for absence of ministers and officials when the Central drought assessment team visited the state to assess the damage.

“Tanks have dried up in many parts of the State, and water level in reservoirs has fallen sharply. The government itself has declared 123 taluks in 24 districts as drought-hit and the loss is estimated at Rs 5,800 crore,” he pointed out. “It’s the worst drought since the year 1971”, Siddaramaiah pointed out.

“For the first time I have seen sugarcane crop drying in the state as there is no power for irrigation pump sets. About 45,000 acres under sugarcane has gone dry in Jamakhandi taluk. The situation is no different in Mandya, the sugarcane belt in Southern parts of the state. Major horticulture crops like lemon, pomegranate, banana, grapes, coconut and arecanut crops are drying. The government should take some permament measures to tackle such a devastating drought,” he said.

Earlier, he sought to move the adjournment motion under Rule 60, while the Speaker K G Bopaiah allowed the discussion under Rule 69, which enables participation of all the members in the discussion.

Later, the speaker adjourned the house for lunch.