The Hindu : Karnataka panel to assess crop damage

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Karnataka panel to assess crop damage

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE APRIL 7. The Karnataka Government today agreed to implement an eight-point charter of demands submitted by the Mandya Zilla Raitha Hitaraskhana Samiti, and announced the constitution of a high-level committee of experts to assess the damage to crops in the district due to the water shortage caused by the recent release to Tamil Nadu. It announced that the committee would, in a month, submit a report on the relief to be given to farmers.

Addressing presspersons after a three-hour-long meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, and attended by the samiti President, G. Made Gowda, its other office-bearers, and legislators from the district, the Minister of State for Primary Education, B.K. Chandrashekar, said the committee, comprising Revenue, Agriculture, and Water Resource ministers, legislators, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) would meet immediately. Representatives of farmers would also be included in the committee, he added.

He said the interest on loans availed of by farmers from cooperative institutions in 2002-03 would be waived, and the Cooperation Minister, H. Vishwanath, would issue a directive.

`Padayatra' put off

Mr. Made Gowda, who was present, announced the postponement of the "padayatra" to the Vidhana Soudha that was to begin on April 14, and expressed satisfaction with the assurance given by Mr. Krishna that all problems of farmers would be solved. He said the report of the committee should be placed before the Cabinet in one week, and the relief decided.

Mr. Gowda warned any attempt to relegate the issue. He said he believed the words of Mr. Krishna that he was a farmer who hailed from Mandya District, and would not harm the interests of farmers. He reserved his right to declare a padayatra if the Government failed to keep its word.

The Water Resources Minister, H.K. Patil, said the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama, announced in the Budget, would be established in three months, and desilting of tanks in the command area entrusted to the organisation.

On the suggestion of farmers' leaders for ensuring optimum use of water in a scientific way, a committee comprising the UAS Vice-Chancellor, the Development Commissioner, the commissioners of Horticulture and Agriculture, the CADA Administrator, and the Irrigation Secretary, and other experts would be set up, Mr. Patil said. Prof. Chandrashekar, who is the Minister in charge of Mandya District, said farmers in the district had been utilising more water for paddy than was required, and were now interested in avoiding wastage.

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