TIMES NEWS NETWORKMangaluru: JD(S) MLC SL Boje Gowda, criticising the Congress-led govt for not initiating a survey of drought situation in the state, demanded that principal secretaries should be sent to every district in this regard.Stating that ministers have been given 4-5 districts to monitor natural disaster and drought situations, the MLC said that the move was just an eye-wash. He said minister UT Khader held name-sake meetings of three districts on a single day, that are practically of no use. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Gowda said a drought-like situation is visible across the state. The govt has not yet declared which taluks or districts are affected by drought. “By this time during early monsoon, activities like paddy cultivation used to be in full swing in regions like Dakshina Kannada. The sowing of pulses, ragi, and other food grains has not happened systematically anywhere in the state due to deficit rain,” he said. “Most of the dams were full and overflowing during this period last year. Under these circumstances, a severe drinking water crisis is already evident in many urban areas, including Bengaluru city, for the future. However, the govt has not taken any precautionary measures until today,” he alleged.“To address how to face this crisis, he said drought management committees should be formed at the district and taluk levels. By forming committees in every taluk and district headquarters, they should plan, but no such programnes have been formulated so far,” he said, and suggested that principal secretaries should be present in every district to oversee the responsibilities.On the chief minister writing to the Centre, asking for a team to study the drought situation, Gowda said sending a team is the responsibility of the Centre, but at the same time, until the central committee arrives to study the drought situation, the state govt should form drought study committees.Referring to the faulty rain gauges across the state, the MLC said that farmers are not able to claim the insurance benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
