Pointing out the delay in the release of drought relief funds, he also questioned the BJP's concern for Karnataka and its farmers.
Published Nov 07, 2023 | 5:37 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 07, 2023 | 6:05 PM
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah. (Supplied)
Taking a dig at the BJP’s Karnataka-wide drought study tour, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, 7 November, asked the saffron party to approach the Union government and ensure that the state got relief funds at the earliest.
Pointing out the delay in the release of drought-relief funds from the Centre, he also questioned the BJP’s concern for the state and its farmers.
In all, 216 out of Karnataka’s total 236 taluks have been declared drought-hit by the Congress government in the state.
Of these 216 taluks, 189 are classified as severely drought-hit and 27 moderately drought-hit taluks.
“Let them do it. The Central team has already come and studied the drought situation. It has not yet submitted the report to the Union government. Here, the BJP is saying — for the sake of politics — that it will go on a drought study tour,” said Siddaramaiah in response to a question about the saffron party’s ongoing tour.
Let the BJP leaders go to the Union government instead, and ensure that the state got drought relief funds at the earliest, he to reporters in Bengaluru.
“The Central team has already studied the situation. We have also studied. Let them study. I don’t have any objection. I’m not saying that they should not study, but it’s been long since we sent the memorandum to the Union government seeking relief, and the Central team visiting the state. They (Central team) have not yet given the report and the Union government has not yet released relief,” he added.
The BJP formed 17 teams headed by leaders — including former chief minister BS Yediyurappa — to tour all 33 districts of the state and assess the drought situation till 10 November.
The party said that it would submit a report to the government and seek special time in the next Assembly session for a debate on the issue.
Pointing out that the state had sought a drought relief of ₹17,900 crore as per norms, while the actual loss was to the tune of ₹33,700 crore, Siddaramaiah said if BJP leaders were concerned about the state’s villages, farmers, and Karnataka, let them ensure that the state received the relief funds at the earliest.
“There are 25 MPs (of the BJP from the state). Let them sit there (in Delhi) and get it done,” he said, alleging that the concerned Union ministers did not even give an appointment to the state’s ministerial team that had gone to Delhi to meet them and apprise them of the situation.
“What concern do they (BJP) have for Karnataka?” he asked.
Responding to a question about JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy’s purported statement alleging that the drought survey was not done scientifically, the chief minister said, “Who did the survey? The Central team comes under whom? Let him blame the Union government for stating that they have not done it scientifically.”
The Karnataka government, on 4 October, informed the 10-member inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) that was on a four-day visit to take stock of the drought situation that the state was facing a “green drought” this time.
It also requested that the assessment be made based on factors like crop growth and yield.
The IMCT, led by the joint secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, met the Cabinet Subcommittee on Disaster Management — consisting of the state’s Cabinet ministers and top officials — and followed it up by meeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
“We have discussed the drought situation in detail with the Central team and have given them the entire picture of its effect, especially on the farmers and their financial condition. We have also shared with them information on crop loss, estimates of loss — in how much acreage, along with data, statics and spot inspection reports, for about two hours,” Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had said then.
A green drought is generally understood to mean a period when there is limited rainfall due to which there is growth of new plants, but the growth is insubstantial.
Noting that while in some places the crops have been completely damaged and in other places the crops’ growth has not been at normal levels or there has not been proper yield despite germination, with grains not forming in many cases, the minister said that the Central team was requested to analyse this in detail during the visit.
Gowda highlighted the fact that the state government, during the meeting, pleaded with the team regarding the changes to be made in the guidelines to declare a drought and informed them that there are a greater number of small and marginal farmers in Karnataka compared to the Union government’s figures.
(With PTI inputs)
