Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Sindhia seeks White Paper on drought

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE July 16. The former minister, P.G.R. Sindhia, has urged the Government to issue a White Paper giving details about the drought relief operations and the funds released by the Centre in this regard.

Participating in discussions on the drought, in the Legislative Assembly today, he said the Government had kept the Opposition in dark about the funds released by the Centre and the works taken up to tackle drought.

Mr. Sindhia alleged that the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, had failed to take adequate steps for resource mobilisation, and said Mr. Krishna should have urged the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to call a meeting of the National Development Council to air the State's grievance regarding the poor allocation of funds for drought relief operations.

He said though a memorandum seeking an assistance of Rs. 1,500 crore was submitted about a year ago, the Government had not taken follow-up action.

Mr. Sindhia said that there was large-scale destruction of horticultural crops, including about 70 lakh coconut trees in the traditionally horticultural districts.

`Set up relief fund'

S.P. Muddahanume Gowda (Congress) wanted the Government to set up a permanent fund to provide relief in times of natural disasters.

He criticised the Centre, which, he said, had shirked its responsibility and failed to come to the rescue of the State which was faced with severe drought. He spoke against a former Union Poverty Alleviation Minister, who was from Karnataka, and wanted to know if he had undertaken a tour of the State to study the situation.

Referring to "discrimination'' against the State in the allotment of foodgrains, Mr. Gowda wanted to know if the BJP's Karnataka unit leaders had made any effort to get more grains.

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