Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs have criticised the State government for declaring Belur and Arkalgud taluks, which fall in the Assembly constituencies represented by Y.N. Rudresh Gowda and A. Manju, Congress MLAs, as drought-hit.
They alleged that Arsikere and Channarayapatna, which are part of the Assembly constituencies represented by their party, were not included in the list, though the district administration had sent a recommendation. They said that the Hassan Deputy Commissioner did not even recommend including Arkalgud in the list as it received more than normal rainfall this year since April 1.
V. Anbukkumar, Deputy Commissioner, in his report on August 31 to the Principal Secretary, Revenue, said Arsikere, Channarayapatna and Belur (Halebidu and Madihalli hoblis) should be declared drought-hit.
“Taluks other than Sakleshpur, Alur, Arkalgud, and Hassan have received less than normal rainfall this year. The Joint Director of Agriculture had put the decrease of yield in agriculture between 25 per cent and 75 per cent,” the report said. The total area affected by drought is 30,403 hectares (ha). This includes 17,768 ha in Arsikere, 7,010 ha. in Belur and 5,625 ha in Channarayapatna taluk.
The government declared 64 taluks of 22 districts as drought-hit on November 16. It was finalised by a cabinet sub-committee headed by V. Srinivas Prasad, Revenue Minister. The government has to provide drinking water, fodder and generate jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act in these areas.
JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna said here on Thursday that the government had not bothered to consider the Deputy Commissioner’s report. The DC’s report was based on a report by the Joint Director, Agriculture. “It seems the government has no faith in its own officials,” he alleged.
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, Arsikere MLA, recently criticised the government for not including the taluk in the list. The taluk unit of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha observed a bandh on November 18.
