Mysuru: The cabinet sub-committee, which reviewed the drought situation in Mysuru division, announced Rs 13,500 per hectare as compensation for farmers, though Mandya Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nagabhushan had sought Rs 50,000 per acre.
The committee members said that Rs 13,500 relief is Rs 5,000 more than the government-stipulated compensation for farmers.
Though Mandya district has seen suicides of 47 farmers, the sub-committee has considered only 18 cases, while accepting only six. It has distributed Rs 12 lakh to the six families of farmers. It is still reviewing 29 other suicide cases.
Mandya has suffered crop loss in 23,106 hectares, of which 15,889 hectares had sugarcane crop. The district administration is supplying drinking water to 12 villages in Maddur and Nelamangala taluks through tankers.
Mr Nagabushan said, “We had asked farmers to choose short-term paddy crops. But Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda told me to encourage ragi as it has assured income.”
As many as 24 taluks and 43 hoblis in six out of eight districts are being declared as drought hit in Mysuru division. While the entire state has suffered 27 per cent deficit rainfall during the southwest Monsoons from June till date, eight districts in Mysuru division have suffered 23 per cent deficit rainfall.
The Cauvery catchment area has suffered 12 percent deficit rainfall and the reservoirs have 44 per cent lesser storage as compared to their original capacities.
Revenue Minister V. Srinivasprasad, Urban Development Minister Vinaykumar Sorake, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda, Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Thangadagi, PWD Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, Cooperation Minister H.S. Mahadevprasad, Committee Chairman and Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra, MLAs, DCs and officials from all eight districts participated in the review meeting.
