Karntaaka seeks Rs 200 crore as immediate drought relief

Mysore, May 5 (UNI) Karnataka Public Works Department Minister H D Revanna today urged the Union Government to release Rs 200 crore to take up immediate drought relief works in the state.

Addressing the newspersons here he said that the funds allocated by the Union Government funds under the National calamity had been utilised, while an additional amount of Rs 128 crore from the state budget had been released for the purpose to provide jobs. Another Rs 31 crore has been earmarked for the drinking water purpose.

He accused the Centre for showing disparity between states in allocating the relief funds. Karnataka had been allocated lowest funds compared to other drought hit states, he said.

"The central should immediately send a relief team to the state to study the situation which has worsened due to failure of pre monsoon rains," he said.

Earlier Mr Revanna visited the rain effected places at K R Nagara taluk and in the city and sanctioned Rs One Lakh each to the victims.

UNI