CM, Opposition polemic on relief works

BANGALORE: After the all-party meeting called to discuss the drought situation in the state, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda claimed that the meeting expressed satisfaction over his government’s initiatives to tackle the drought. “The Opposition leaders are satisfied with the relief works taken up though they highlighted a few lapses,” he added.However, Opposition leader in the Assembly Siddaramiah disputed Gowda’s claim and accused the state government of failing to tackle the situation. “The administration in the districts has completely collapsed and the problem of drinking water has become severe in most parts of the state,” he said.JD(S) leader in the Assembly H D Revanna demanded that the state government waive farm loans besides announcing higher subsidies for seeds and fertilisers.Among others, the Opposition parties demanded setting up of fodder banks and cow-sheds at gram panchayat level, double the quantity of food grains to be distributed from the public distribution system, supply water through tankers wherever necessary.Apart from seeking assistance, the delegation would also press for state’s long pending demands like amendment to Article 371 B to provide special reservation for people of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region in education and employment, fixation of minimum support price for grapes, pomegranate and potato and increase in the import duty on raw silk to protect the interests of state’s mulberry growers.