Bengaluru, Aug 25 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, G. Parameshwara, on Tuesday said 102 taluks in the state were currently facing drought conditions and that a comprehensive report on the situation would be submitted to the Union government by the end of August.

Speaking to the media near his residence in Bengaluru, Parameshwara said the government was reviewing the drought situation every week and would discuss the findings of the ground-truthing exercise in the Cabinet.

“According to the prescribed criteria for declaring drought, 102 taluks are currently facing drought conditions. We will discuss the findings of the ground-truthing exercise in the Cabinet. We are reviewing the situation every week. A comprehensive report will be submitted to the Union Government by the end of this month,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office has stated that the Union government has extended the deadline for crop insurance enrolment in drought-hit areas of Karnataka. Earlier, the Karnataka government had written to the Centre seeking an extension of the deadline.

Deputy Chief Minister Parameshwara further said the issue would also be discussed during a meeting between Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and MLAs scheduled for Tuesday.

The Deputy Chief Minister said many MLAs had been seeking meetings with the Chief Minister to raise issues concerning their constituencies. Shivakumar would, therefore, meet the MLAs in batches until the evening, hear their concerns and discuss measures to address them, he said.

Asked whether only Congress MLAs had been invited, Parameshwara said the ruling party had a responsibility to remain united and that greater importance was naturally given to its legislators.

“People have elected us and they have expectations from the ruling party. Therefore, naturally, there will be more opportunities,” he said.

On assigning ministers responsibility for taking government schemes to the people and preparing for the upcoming local body elections, Parameshwara said one minister had been appointed for each district.

“These ministers have two responsibilities. They have to undertake party work as well as development activities. As district ministers, they will address party-related issues and oversee development works. This has been the practice for a long time,” he said.

On the decision to transfer the Hanur case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Parameshwara said the government routinely hands over cases to the CID when there are doubts surrounding an incident.

“Whenever such incidents occur and the government has doubts, the matter is handed over to the CID. This case has also been handed over in the same manner. There is nothing new in this,” he said.

–IANS

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