Senior JD(S) leaders led by former minister and JD(S) core committee chief GT Devegowda on Sunday visited drought-hit villages in Mysuru and Hunsur taluks in Mysuru district on Sunday. The team during its visit instilled confidence among the farmers who had suffered a huge loss owing to the drought.

Former minister SR Mahesh, MLA GD Harish Gowda, former MLAs Ashvin Kumar and K Mahadev and JD(S) Mysuru district unit chief Narasimha Swamy were part of the team.

The JD(S) leaders told farmers, who had suffered this year owing to severe drought, not to lose heart. They also said that Mysuru had witnessed crop loss on 85,000 hectares. Total crop loss is estimated to be Rs 70 crore according to official estimates, but farmers were also facing a financial crunch due to the domino effect of the drought, and were unable to repay the loans borrowed from banks, societies and private lenders, they pointed out.

Speaking to reporters, Devegowda accused the state government of not releasing funds for drought relief despite farmers suffering huge losses. Going by the drought assessment conducted by the officials, it is estimated to be a loss of Rs 70 crore in the district. However, the officials have left out sugarcane, tobacco and other crops in their report, he said.

He also said that the government had not reserved funds for the purchase of coal which has affected the production of electricity and added that the JD(S) leaders were trying to instil confidence among the farmers who were also suffering from being attacked by wild cats.

JD(S) threatens to disrupt winter session

Taking a dig at the ruling Congress, Devegowda said that those who were criticizing the drought assessment by the opposition parties had not conducted a single survey. He also threatened to disrupt the winter session of the legislature, accusing the government of failing to release funds to take up drought relief.

Meanwhile, KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana said the JD(S) and BJP leaders assessing the drought situation in the state must convince PM Narendra Modi to release adequate funds for drought relief. Mocking the drought assessment by former CM BS Yediyurappa at Kythasandra in Tumakuru, Lakshman said the BJP neta was in the field for a mere one-and-a-half minutes.

"The Union government collects Rs 4.73 lakh crore towards taxes from the state out of which the state's share is Rs 2 lakh crore. However, the Centre has released only Rs 52,000 crore," he added. Lakshman also alleged none of the Union ministers from the state were speaking about the central government not releasing funds under MNREGA and 15th finance commission.

Source - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com