Belagavi: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has decided to release '50 lakh to each of the 139 drought-hit taluks in the state to facilitate drought-relief work in the affected areas.
At a meeting held to review the drought situation at Saudatti on Friday, the Chief Minister said a memorandum has been submitted to the Centre to get more funds to tackle the drought situation. After an inspection in drought-hit villages near Belagavi, Mr Siddaramaiah said the state had sufficient funds to provide water and the needed assistance to all drought-hit areas.
“Officials should implement all 18 multi-village drinking water schemes in 166 villages of Belagavi district by March next as it will help more than 5.6 lakh people,” he said.
The Chief Minister directed Belagavi deputy commissioner N. Jairam to check the possibility of adding more villages which faced water problems to the multi-village scheme in Belagavi district. Recalling the success of the first phase of Kere Sanjeevini (lake rejuvination scheme) implemented last fiscal, the chief minister directed his officials to implement Kere Sanjeevini Scheme II in the state to rejuvenate drying lakes in drought-prone areas. Lakes which have dried up due to drought, should be idenfied by officials so that the scheme can be implemented on priority, he added. According to Mr Jairam, all 4,66 lakes in Belagavi district which needed a facelift would be rejuvenated before the onset of the next monsoon.
