Karnataka: Govt Stands With Farmers, Ready To Tackle Drought: Khandre
"There is no need for farmers to panic. The government stands with them and will take steps to address their difficulties”: Eshwar Khandre
BIDAR: The failed monsoon has left a trail of damaged crops across Bidar, with green gram and black gram bearing the brunt of the losses and soybean and pigeon pea crops also badly hit, prompting the government to step up measures to tackle the drought situation and support affected farmers.
The government has also decided to discuss the drought topic during the forthcoming session.
Nearly 95 per cent of the green gram and black gram crops in the district have been damaged due to inadequate rainfall during June and July, while soybean and pigeon pea crops have suffered losses of around 50 per cent, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Bidar in-charge Eshwar Khandre said on Tuesday.
Khandre visited several villages and inspected farmers’ fields to assess the impact of the rainfall deficit. He visited Ashtur, Chondi and Chawli in Bidar taluk and Ahmedabad, Sangam in Kamalnagar, Holasamudra and Diggi villages, interacting with farmers and officials about the crop losses.
He directed officials to conduct a survey of damaged crops and undertake crop-cutting experiments to assess the extent of losses. Agriculture officials were also asked to guide farmers on the assistance available under drought-relief measures.
“There is no need for farmers to panic. The government stands with them and will take steps to address their difficulties,” Khandre said.
At Chondi, he inspected a three-acre green gram crop cultivated by farmer Siddappa, which had been severely affected by inadequate rainfall. He assured the farmer that a borewell would be sanctioned through the Scheduled Caste Development Corporation.
He also inspected damaged green gram and black gram crops in the fields of farmers Subhash and Gurupadayya.
Khandre told reporters that the government would provide compensation for crop losses this year. He said there were prescribed government criteria for declaring drought and that the matter would be discussed during the Assembly session.
The government would also act immediately if drinking water shortages were reported, Khandre said. Rs 4 crore had been sanctioned last year and Rs 6 crore would be provided this year for drinking water measures.
He said around 30,000 people in the district were being provided employment under the VBG-RAM-G scheme to prevent migration. Works worth Rs 48 crore had already been taken up under the programme and additional funds would be released shortly.
MLA Rahim Khan, Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Sharma and senior district officials were present.
