Under public pressure and amid the realities of a serious drought in Karnataka, a second batch of legislators and officials, scheduled to embark on a European tour from September 27, has called it off.
The BJP’s Suresh Gowda, who is the Chairman of the Subordinate Legislation Committee of the Legislature undertaking the tour, told The Hindu that he had decided against going ahead with the 15-day study trip in view of the prevailing drought situation.
A total of 12 legislators, accompanied by three Legislative Assembly Secretariat officials, were to have toured Germany, Italy and the U.K., among other countries.
Mr. Gowda said the Committee had planned the trip as the State was receiving rains and the reservoirs were filling up. “But, now we realise that the rains received are not enough and drought conditions prevail. So, it is advisable to cancel the trip and facilitate the legislators to return to their constituencies to address the woes of the people.” He said the tour could be planned again after two months. Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said he had advised the legislators to put off the tour by two months.
