Home Minister G. Parmeshwara, while making it clear that there was no dearth of funds for tackling drought in the State, directed the district administration to initiate all necessary steps to get crop loss in the district re-surveyed and give compensation at the earliest. Presiding over a meeting to review drought in the district here on Wednesday, Dr. Parmeshwara said that around Rs. 10 crore was available with the district administration and the government was ready to release additional funds if necessary.

On being told that for want of reassessment of crop loss, and also that most farmers were not providing their bank account details, there had been some delay in disbursing compensation, he instructed that steps be taken immediately to set the anomalies right.

Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister of State for Minor Irrigation and district in-charge, who was present, directed Deputy Commissioner M. Kanagavalli to issue a deadline to 6,589 farmers to submit their bank account details and then, arrange for release of compensation.

Referring to a demand from Karadi Sanganna, MP, for a probe by the Central Bereau of Investigation into the Rs. 34-crore scam the in Kushtagi division of the Minor Irrigation Department, Dr. Parmeshwara said that investigation had been entrusted to the Criminal Investigation Department which was capable of unearthing the truth. “Those involved in the scam would not be spared,” he added. With regard to curbing rampant illegal sand mining, he directed Tyagarajan, Superintendent of Police, to initiate appropriate action.

Basavaraj Rayareddy, Raghavendra Hitnal, Basavaraj Patil Itagi, all legislators, S.B. Nagaralli, ZP president, were present.

Source - http://www.thehindu.com