From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Apr 20: Congress Opposition leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah alleged that the State Government failed to prepare action plan for 2012-13 to face the drought in the months of April and May and provide drinking water and jobs to agriculturists and unemployed.
The BJP Government headed by D V Sadananda Gowda has completely failed in not only implementing drought relief and rehabilitation works but also in ensuring fodder to the livestock, which showed its lack of seriousness and commitment, the Congress leader said.
Siddaramaiah came down heavily on the State government for not taking up relief measures on a war-footing in the 123 drought-hit taluks.
He said that whatever had been done would not solve drinking water and fodder shortages nor provide jobs to lakhs of people.
Speaking to reporters, he alleged that the Chief Minister was levelling false allegations against the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government saying that it had not released enough funds to tackle the drought.
Quoting the Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh, he said the State was yet to utilise Rs 391 crore from the total amount of Rs700 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to the State that was released by the Centre a couple of days ago.
He said that during 2011-12, the centre had released Rs 1,500 crore under the rural drinking water supply scheme out of which it had spent only Rs 1,060 crore.
Claiming that the State Government had spent from its exchequer barely Rs 17 crore on drought, Siddaramaiah demanded a reply on why it failed to provide jobs under the MGREG Scheme.
Siddaramaiah, who visited the drought-hit taluks, said that Kudligi taluk of Bellary district had not been given jobs to any of the villagers and 100 days of work had not been given to people in any taluk across the State.
The Government which drew Rs 2,800 crore during 2010-11 utilised only Rs 1,875 crore during 2011-12 under the MGREGS when people suffered due to drought.
In fact, it should have utilised double the amount, he said pointing out that If it was sincere, removing silt from 3,300 tanks, which have dried up, should have been done on an emergency basis. It would helped in getting sufficient water when it rains through raising water table.
He alleged that neither the Chief Minister nor the State Government representative in Dehli Dhananjaya Kumar, who enjoys cabinet minister’s rank and perks, had met the committee of the union government which decides the quantum of funds for drought.
The State could have got more funds from the National Calamity Contingency Fund and Calamity Relief Fund, if it had reminded them, he said.
Karnataka has already received Rs 70 crore from the NCCF, Siddaramaiah said.