Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Sep 8: Shanthaveerappa Gowda, vice-president of state unit Bharatiya Janata Party raita morcha addressed a press conference on Thursday September 8 at the town BJP office, Kadiyali here.

He said, "There are 14 vented dams in the state out of which only three have got filled up this monsoon. The government should construct a balancing dam, to provide water for farmers. 

He said that the state government has allegedly stated that the government has to sanction incentives amounting to Rs 300 crore to the farmers as they are facing severe electricity shortage. The previous government had supplied power and imported it from various places to overcome shortage.

"The central government has released Rs 450 crore towards loans with less percentage of interest in order to encourage the farmers to utilize them, but the state government has not released the funds so far."

"On taking charge as union minister for chemicals and fertilizers, Ananth Kumar brought about a lot of improvements here. He re-opened all the chemical centers in the nation and increased the production of neem-coated urea to lacs of tonnes," informed the vice president.

On the Yettinahole project, Shantaveerappa said, "The working officer and engineer for the project is shifted to Tumkur district. This will hinder the interests of the concerned district."

"The state government is not bothered about the problems arising from horticulture," he said. "The chief minister has not compensated either for the drought affected areas or the farmers, even though funds have been released by the Prime Minister."

"The government should attend to the problems of the farmers  on humanity basis, instead of only attending to political issues."

He refused to comment on the Supreme Court's order for Cauvery water release. He said, "Supreme Court should know the ground reality before passing judgement."

"On Wednesday September 14, the state BJP raitha morcha and district BJP unit Udupi have jointly decided to stage a protest and attack all DC offices in the state simultaneously." 

"Sand policy, Varahi project, Brahmavar sugar factory, problem of clayey soil, algae, UPCL related issues will be the topics for discussion at the protest meet," disclosed the vice president.

Mutlupady Satish Shetty, district raitha morcha, Chittaranjan Hegde, Chandrahasa Shetty, Katpady Shankar Poojary and others were present.