The Hindu : State to seek more funds, foodgrains

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 23, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

State to seek more funds, foodgrains

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore April 22. A ministerial delegation from the State would be leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to press the demand for additional funds and foodgrains as the drought-relief works had to be sustained for two more months, the Minister of State for Revenue, Mallikarjuna Nagappa, said here today.

Mr. Nagappa said the delegation comprising members of the Cabinet subcommittee on drought would meet the Union ministers concerned on Thursday to request them to allot about Rs. 290 crore and 4.35 lakh tonnes of rice.

The State had submitted a memorandum some time ago seeking Rs. 1,562 crore and 11 lakh tonnes of rice. Out of this, the Centre had released Rs. 197 crore and 6.65 lakh tonnes of rice, including the recent allocation of 1.35 lakh tonnes of rice.

About 75 per cent of the recent allocation had been lifted, Mr. Nagappa said.

He said 98,000 drought-relief works had been taken up.

The lorry owners' strike had not affected the distribution of rice as the stocks already lifted would take care of the needs for the next week. Denying that the allegation that only Rs. 30 crore had been released from the funds received from the Centre, Mr. Nagappa said this was the amount released this month. The Government had earlier released Rs. 107 crore.

According to Mr. Nagappa there was a shortage of drinking water in 92 villages and the deputy commissioners concerned had been asked to transport water to these villages.

As far as fodder was concerned, the Government had released Rs. 9 crore for purchase of the same.

The deputy commissioners had requested that the transport charge for fodder be raised from 50 paise a tonne to Re. 1. The subcommittee would examine the request, he said.

The delegation is scheduled to meet the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and the Union ministers for Finance and Agriculture.

The possibility of the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, who will be in Delhi with a delegation to meet the Prime Minister to seek special status for the Hyderabad Karnataka region also meeting the Prime Minister along with the members of the subcommittee could not be ruled out, Mr. Nagappa added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

New seat allotment formula for colleges

Prisons in State to be modernised

Lokayukta indicts Mysore university VC

WB team to discuss new project with municipal commissioners

State to seek more funds, foodgrains

12 mega industrial projects get nod