Karnataka - Bangalore

Ugrappa calls for relief measures

Bangalore: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa on Tuesday demanded that the State Government immediately initiate relief measures in the flood- and drought-hit taluks, which were facing a shortage of food, drinking water and fodder.

Mr. Ugrappa told presspersons here that sowing had been completed in 40.90 hectares of the targeted 74 lakh hectares. Crops on 6.86 lakh hectares were withering. The Government had mentioned a month ago that 124 taluks were facing drought. This had come down to 84 taluks. The Government had earmarked only Rs. 115.75 crore for relief measures, including money from the Calamity Relief Fund, of which Rs. 27.96 crore had been spent.

Mr. Ugrappa said the Government was trying to divert funds from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, for which the Union Government had released Rs. 1,100 crore, for relief measures.

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