Date:08/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/08/stories/2007030815400400.htm

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Karnataka - Bangalore

Drought relief schemes hit

Special Correspondent

Only three districts have prepared action plans, says Prakash

Task forces have not formulated action plans in 128 taluks

74 villages and 11 towns facing drinking water crisis

M.P. Prakash

BANGALORE: The State Government's drought relief programme has been hit badly in 24 districts following non-formulation of action plans by task forces headed by legislators. Only three districts had prepared action plans to implement the drought relief measures.

A Cabinet sub-committee on drought headed by Home Minister M.P. Prakash on Wednesday held a two-hour meeting with secretaries' in-charge of various districts and took stock of the drought situation in the State.

Addressing presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Prakash said task forces headed by legislators in each taluk had not formulated action plans to mitigate drought in 128 taluks. Following the delay in the formulation of plans, the deputy commissioners had been given powers to draft the plans in a week to tackle drought on a war-footing.

Though the Government had released Rs. 2 crore to each drought-hit taluk, funds were not utilised due to delay in the preparation of action plans. He refused divulge the names of three districts which had prepared the plans. The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department had prepared a contingent plan to deal with drought and implement relief measures. The RDPR Department had prepared a Rs. 96-crore plan to implement 1,306 mini water schemes and 1,346 piped water schemes in villages.

The Urban Development Department had prepared a Rs. 36.28-crore plan to supply drinking water in towns, he said.

Mr. Prakash said the drought situation was very bad in several taluks. As many as 74 villages and 11 towns had been facing severe drinking water crisis, and tankers had been used to supply water. As many as 4,463 villages had identified as "problematic" and they were likely to face drought in the future, he said.

The foodgrain production for the kharif season (2006) had dropped by 25 per cent on account of drought while production of oilseeds by 40 per cent.

Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, who also attended the meeting, said there was no shortage of funds to implement drought relief measures.

A sum of Rs. 248 crore was with the deputy commissioners and they had been instructed to utilise the amount.