Since the district has failed to receive ample rainfall for the sixth consecutive year, the State government should take immediate steps to declare Chitradurga drought-hit and announce a special package to the district to protect the interests of the farmers, Horakerappa, president, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene Hiriyur taluk has said. At a meeting of Sangha and Sene members here on Tuesday, he said the groundwater table in all six taluks of the district has depleted considerably and farmers were in a pathetic condition owing to crop failure.
“The water level at Vani Vilas Sagar has also decreased considerably and the available water can be supplied for drinking only for another fortnight,” he said.
The State government should instruct officers to survey the crop loss in the district and make arrangements to release compensation to all affected farmers here. The government should also fix a support price of ₹10,000 per quintal of groundnut and ₹4,000 per quintal of onion; take immediate steps to waive all loans of farmers; and extend the date of paying crop insurance premium till the end of August.
The working president of the Sangha C.Siddaramanna alleged that the authorities had failed to control the sale of illicit liquor in rural areas of the district. He demanded that immediate steps be taken to stop sale of liquor in these areas and action must be initiated against those involved in such activities.
