Belagavi: Amidst complaints from several parts of drought-hit north-Karnataka that the government is not serious about supply of water to affected areas in tankers, Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande, chief of the Cabinet sub-committee on drought, has called on officials in Vijayapura to ensure that at least 12 pots of water is provided to each family in the drought-hit district every day.
Congress MLA from Indi, Yashwant Raigouda Patil threatened to boycott the meeting called by the sub-committee expressing displeasure at the way drought-relief works were being carried out at Indi. He said, “The government is not releasing funds effectively to Indi, which is facing the worst drought in the last four decades nor are owners of tankers that supplied water to affected villages paid their bills. Why should the committee hold meetings merely as a formality if drought-relief works are not being implemented seriously,'' he wondered. Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda's statement that the government will release another installment of funds to the Task Force to take up relief work in Vijayapura enraged Mr Patil, who said, the meetings called by ministers should focus on criticial issues faced by people.
Ministers R.V. Deshpande and S.R. Patil intervened to calm down Mr Patil and assured that a proposal would shortly be submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for release of additional funds for drought-relief work at Indi considering it as a special case. Reviewing the conditions in Vijayapura, Mr Deshpande said, the district administration should not grant leave to any officers in the district until June 15 to ensure that drought-relief work is carried out effectively.
