Bangalore: The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has urged the Government to immediately launch relief works in all the drought-hit areas of the State.

KPCC spokesman V.S. Ugrappa and general secretary Prakash Rathod, MLCs, told presspersons here on Thursday that there was severe drought in 110 of the 176 taluks and the Government was yet to launch drought relief programmes. There was an acute shortage of drinking water in several villages.

At a recent meeting of the State Cabinet, the Government declared 102 taluks as drought-hit and directed the deputy commissioners of the districts to undertake relief works on a war footing.

The Finance Department was also directed to provide the funds sought by the deputy commissioners. An all-party delegation led by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking special assistance for tackling both floods and drought.

Mr. Ugrappa said that the Government had totally failed in tackling the drought. If the Government was really flush with funds as was being repeatedly stated by Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa then it should immediately release it for the drought-hit areas rather than pleading with the Centre to release funds.

The Congress leaders maintained that the Centre had favourably responded to the State's request for funds for flood relief operations and Rs. 250 crore had been sanctioned.

Referring to the Chief Minister's new programme of staying overnight in villages to hear and redress the grievances of the rural people, Mr. Ugrappa said it was only a drama and if he was really serious he should first ascertain the problems of the rural people.

Staying for a few hours in the house of a villager would not help in solving problems, he said.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu