Kar CM regrets meagre central assistance by Centre to tackle drought

Bangalore, Jan 29 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today regretted the absence of assistance from the Centre despite the state reeling under severe drought.

Addressing the delegates at the National Executive of the Janata Dal (Secular) here, he said 128 taluks of the total 176 had been declared drought-affected following widespread failure of monsoon.

Visit by two central teams, to study flood and drought situation, had only resulted in a meagre central assistance of Rs 250 crores and '' in spite of my government's repeated requests for additional central assistance nothing more has been forthcoming,'' he remarked.

He said keeping this in mind his government had released Rs 100 crores from its own resources for employment creation in the worst affected districts. This harsh reality of the agricultural sector also forced his government to contemplate on waiver of all outstanding dues of small and marginal farmers towards loans in the cooperative sector taken for agricultural operations.

Mr Kumaraswamy, in his 10 page address, observed that administration of a coalition government was not a bed of roses.

Nevertheless, response to his various initiatives such as 'Janata Darshan' had been overwhelming and extraordinary. Some of the best moments of his government had been when the district administration had moved with him to villages and brought relief to those who had lost hope that the administration was not for them, be it a matter of employment, housing or provision of basic facilities like water and roads, he recalled.

Listing out his government's achievements in last one year, he said agriculture and rural development were among the highest priorities of his government. Budgetory allocations for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes had been increased by almost 50 per cent and financial allocation for backward clases was also incrased significantly. The state government had also launched ''Bhagyalakshmi scheme'' for girl child belonging to Below Poverty Line families and distribution of 1.75 lakh bicycles to eligible girl students.

He said the state and the city in particular, continued to attract industrial investments in large numbers. More than 200 new IT companies came to the city in last one year and also 35 new biotechnology companies started functioning. In all the state had received project proposals worth over Rs 80,000 crores investment having an investment potential of 15 lakh and were cleared by the government, he added.

UNI