BENGALURU: As many as 136 taluks are reeling under acute scarcity conditions but the severity of drought this year could take up more taluks by the end of the month.
Of these 136 taluks, 65 which are spread over 12 districts in north Karnataka, are severely affected without sufficient drinking water for local people and fodder for the cattle.
According to revenue minister Srinivasa Prasad, the state government has released Rs. 214. 50 crores for drought relief works, but spent only Rs. 124.29 crores. Besides, RDPR department has released Rs. 50 lakhs each to 185 Assembly constituencies for drinking water, adding up to Rs. 68 crores.
Besides, the urban development department has released an amount of Rs. 45 crores with the government focusing on supply of drinking water, fodder, and shelters for cattle in all these areas.
With CM Siddaramaiah planning a three-day visit to six districts of north Karnataka, officials are busy to gathering latest statistics about amount spent for drought relief works and latest update on drinking water crisis and fodder scarcity in these areas.
Official sources said nearly 3469 villages are facing severe drinking water crisis. People of north Karnataka migrated to south following drinking water crisis, and weddings and social gatherings have been postponed due to drinking water crisis. The government, however, is able to provide drinking water to only 817 villages in 19 districts, including 8 in north Karnataka.
At presently, the government has been providing drinking water to Kolar, Dharwad, Bengaluru (Rural), Bengaluru (Urban), Chikka ballapura, Vijayapura, Kalabu ragi, Ramanagara, Chitra durga, Hassan, Belagavi, Chikkamagaluru, Gadag, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Tumakuru, Udupi, Bidar and Koppala districts.
Employment under MGNREGA only hope
This is the only area where the state government has been doing good amount of work to provide succour to drought affected people by offering 150 days of employment under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guaranty Scheme. As on April 13, the state government has been able to provide employment to 4.95 lakh workers. Out of 6093 Gram Panchayats, 5034 have taken up MGNREGA projects in order to provide employment to people affected by drought.
Day back, the Special Commissioner of MGNREGS, Prabhash Chandra Ray and other officials did video conference directing all CEO of ZPs provide employment to the people under MGNREGS without any fail.
Even Chief Minister has strictly directed the officials in ZPs and TPs to provide employment under MGNREGS, CM has also warns that if officials failed to provide employment, heads will be rolled, said an senior officials who overseeing the implementation of MGNREGS.
All GPs have been directed to provide employment of 61000 individual works and 10000 new community works. Out of 6093 GPs, 754 GPs have yet to provide employments, directions have been issued in this regard, said senior official.
“In 12 districts, total Rs. 1830 crore works have been done for 6 crore man days. The arrears of Rs. 750 crore have been released. The pending liability is Rs. 247.33 crore. We have asked Rs. 1618 crore from the Centre, the Centre has released Rs.892 crore on April 2016. Remaining Rs. 802 crore is pending from the Centre”, said a senior official.
Meanwhile, the state government has given strict instructions to public sector banks not to deduct MGNREGA amount which has remitted to beneficiaries’ account for loan amount due from them.
