From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 13: Getting down to business on the very next of being sworn in as Karnataka’s new Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who replaced D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday, has announced the immediate release of Rs 136 crore for carrying out urgent drought elief works.

Shettar, who reviewed the prevailing drought situation in 23 out of the 30 districts in the State along with his cabinet ministerial colleagues and senior officials including chief secretary S V Ranganath, directed the officials to immediately prepare contingency plans to tackle the scarcity conditions in the State as monsoon continued to play truant even till the middle of July.

The new chief minister said Rs 40 crore had also been released for drinking water in urban areas where water shortage has been reported.

Shettar said there were shortcomings in implementation of employment guarantee scheme in some districts and asked the officials to ensure people got jobs.

The water level in various reservoirs of the state was depleting due to failure of rains, he said, adding, the government would soon take a decision whether to go in for cloud seeding.

He said it was worrisome that barely 10.88 lakh hecatres out of 74.70 lakh hectares has come under sowing during this Khariff season, indicating the gravity of the situation.

The state government had so far released Rs 2,193 crore for relief works and Rs 1,
 
Though the State Government submitted two memoranda to the Centre seeking Rs 6,215 crore assistance, Shettar said it was deplorable that barely Rs 352.58 crore had been released so far.