The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 84 taluks in the State declared drought-hit

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Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

84 taluks in the State declared drought-hit

Special Correspondent

Additional funds sought from Finance Department

Officials told to despatch reports on crop loss
Relief measures to be taken up on war-footing

G. Karunakara Reddy

BANGALORE: Following inadequate monsoon, the State Government has declared 84 taluks in 21 districts as drought-hit.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, Minister for Revenue G. Karunakara Reddy said Deputy Commissioners of the districts had been instructed to take up drought relief measures on a war-footing by utilising Rs. 115 crore available with them. A proposal has been submitted to the Finance Department seeking an additional release of Rs. 50 crore for taking up drinking water related works.

As many as 11 taluks in Bangalore division, eight taluks in Mysore division, 41 taluks in Gulbarga division, and 35 taluks in Belgaum division have been declared as drought affected, Mr. Reddy said.

The number of taluks declared drought-hit district-wise are: Bangalore Urban (1), Bangalore Rural (1), Ramanagara (3), Kolar (1), Chitradurga (3), Davangere (2), Mysore (1), Mandya (1), Hassan (3), Chikmagalur (2), Bellary (7), Koppal (4), Raichur (5), Gulbarga (10), Bidar (5), Belgaum (9), Bagalkot (6), Bijapur (5), Gadag (5), Haveri (5), and Dharwad (5), Mr. Reddy said.

The Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to despatch reports on crop loss owing to recent rain. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would lead a delegation to Delhi to seek funds under the National Calamity Relief Fund of the Centre in the first week of September, he said.

Asked about the proposal to take up cloud seeding in drought-hit districts, Mr. Reddy said there was no proposal before the Government since all reservoirs were full. The Government would explore the option of cloud-seeding from the ground using ground-to-air rockets next year, he said.

Registration

Mr. Reddy said the Government was contemplating resuming registration of agricultural (revenue) lands in the State.

The registration of agricultural lands has been stopped during the Kumaraswamy Government.

With the decline in the revenue to the Government, a decision on resuming registration of farmlands would be taken soon, the Minister said.

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