Bangalore, Sept 10: Karnataka government has decided to release Rs 25 crore from calamity relief fund for taking up works in drought-hit areas, State Minister for Home M Mallikarjun Kharge said today. Kharge told reporters here that the state cabinet sub-committee, set up under his chairmanship to monitor scarcity relief works, yesterday decided to declare four Taluks, Srinivasapur in Kolar, Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumkur, Chamarajanagar and Krishnarajpet in Mandya as drought-hit, taking the number of Taluks affected by the natural calamity to 130. The meeting reviewed the situation and concluded that 60 Taluks out of 130 faced severe drought and decided to grant Rs 20 lakh each for providing drinking water and employment. Kharge said government had decided to extend Rs 10 crore agricultural input subsidy for farmers to help them take up sowing operations during Rabi season.


He said Rs 50 lakh had been sanctioned to Bidar, Udupi, Mangalore and Karwar districts for taking up flood relief operations.
Kharge said Chief Minister S M Krishna and he had met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and presented him a copy of the memorandum submitted already to the Centre, requesting him to sanction special assistance to the state for tackling drought as soon as possible.


Bureau Report