“People’s opinion is government’s opinion.” This is how Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reacted when asked about the State government’s stand on granting conservation reserve tag for the Kappatagudda range in Gadag district.
Responding to questions from reporters during his brief halt at a private airport here, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who was en route to Manvi in Raichur district, said: “The State Wildlife Board has unanimously taken a decision in this regard and the final decision has to be taken. Meanwhile, a public interest litigation has been filed in the Karnataka High Court on the Kappatagudda issue. The matter as of now rests at that.”
On the severe drought situation in the State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said there was a detailed discussion during the recent Assembly session and a meeting of Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs was held, where directions were issued to take steps to tackle the drinking water, fodder shortage and employment crises. He made it clear that there was no dearth of funds to handle the situation.
“We have given instructions to the DCs and CEOs to ensure that shortage of drinking water, fodder and employment does not arise. They have been asked to open goshalas, set up fodder banks and drill or hire borewells wherever necessary. The government has promised to release adequate funds for this,” he said.
On getting financial assistance from the Centre to tackle drought, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Union government had released the first instalment of ₹450 crore out of the approved ₹1,782 crore for kharif. But it has not taken a decision on the memorandum sent by the State government to extend financial assistance for rabi crops.
“I requested the Union Finance Minister to release the assistance in full to enable the State government to release input subsidy to farmers to compensate for their losses. Mr. Jaitley has agreed and we hope that assistance will be released in single instalments in future,” the CM said.
Ministers H.K. Patil, H.C. Mahadevappa and Basavaraj Rayaraddi were among those present.
