K'taka contemplates banning inter-state rice transport

Shimoga, Karnataka, July 2 (UNI) The Karnataka Government is contemplating to ban inter-state transport of rice and impose levy on its transportation within the State, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Haratal Halappa said today.

Talking to reporters here, he said since the State itself was facing scarcity of rice, there was nothing wrong in banning its transportation to neighbouring States, though the issue did not come under the State's purview. Karnataka was supplying rice to Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The Minister said though paddy was grown in a large scale in Gangavati, Raichur, Bellary and Sindhanur in the State, the yield had reduced in the recent years.

Regarding the proposed Rs 200 crore Dandavati River Irrigation and Drinking Water Project at Sorab taluk in Shimoga district, Mr Halappa said feasibility study of the project had been assigned to an agency and the Government had asked the agency to submit its report within 45 days. It was sad to note that there was opposition to the project from some quarters with political motives, he alleged.

He said he would talk to the agitating people within a couple of days after getting the Detailed Project Survey report. Many of the locals were in favour of constructing small check dams, instead of big dams across the river for irrigation and drinking water purpose.

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