The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Rs. 23-cr action plan for drought-prone districts

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Saturday, Jul 12, 2008
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Rs. 23-cr action plan for drought-prone districts

Special Correspondent

Development works will be taken up in 14 districts
60 per cent of the funds to be spent on water harvesting

BANGALORE: The Dry-land Development Board has prepared a Rs. 22.76-crore action plan for undertaking various development works in 57 taluks of 14 districts.

Minister for Minor Irrigation, Planning and Statistics Govind M. Karjol, who presided the 21st meeting of the Board on Friday, said 60 per cent of the funds would be spent on water harvesting programmes and rest on forestry, horticulture, animal husbandry and other income generating activities. The Board covers drought-prone districts of Bangalore Rural, Ramanagara, Tumkur, Kolar, Chickballapur, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Belgaum, Bijapur and Bagalkot.

In 2007-08, the Government released Rs. 21 crore for various development works of the Board. But only Rs. 16 crore had been utilised owing to political instability and imposition of the President’s Rule in the State.

Established in 1995, the Board had so far spent Rs. 84 crore on various programmes in drought-prone districts. It had become inactive over the years owing to shortage of funds and lack of commitment on the part of the officials to execute schemes, the Minister said.

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