Congress continues dharna in the Council

Belgaum, Sept 29 (UNI) Dharna by Opposition Congress members in the Special Session of the Legislative Council entered second day demanding formation of a House Committee to look into drought and flood relief works in the State.

The Congress members, who commenced their dharna last night, remained in the well of the House even after the Chairman adjourned the at 0130 hrs and slept in the House as the efforts by Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediryurappa to pacify them went in vain.

As soon as the House began this morning, Revenue Minister Jagdish Shettar gave the details of the funds released to the flood affected as well as to the drought affected taluks. But not satisfied with the reply Congress members continued to remain in the well of the House continuing their Dharna.

Appeals by Mr Shettar and leader of the House D H Shankarmurthy failed to convince the agitating members, who demanded that either the Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister should come and reply to their demands.

Mr Yediyurappa, who had remained in the House till morning persuading the agitating Congress members, assured the members that the government would do everything possible in its limitations and appealed them to give suggestions on the matter.

He said the flood situation was not that grim as it was last year. Three hundred people had died the government had spent Rs 500 Crore towards relief and other measures. But this year, the number of deaths due to floods was 18 and the government has already released required funds for relief works.

The government has also spent Rs 70 crore for permanently shifting the affected villages, he said and added that at no stage the government did not say that there was no serious drought or flood situation, compared to last year the situation was much better this year.

Leader of the Opposition H K Patil reiterated that over five lakh people from the state in general and Koppal district in particular have migrated to Goa and other neighbouring states in search of work he wanted to know what steps the government was initiating to bring these people back and provide them job.

Mr Yedyurappa said that the government has written to the Centre appealing to increase the days of employment from 100 days to 200 days under National Rural Employment Programme(NREP). He invited the opposition members to tour the affected areas along with him and to assess the ground reality instead of staging dharna.

With Congress members continuing dharna, the Chairman adjourned the house for 30 minutes.

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