Take over private borewells in drought-hit areas, says Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed officials to take over private borewells in drought-hit areas to use them for supplying drinking water.

At a review meeting with deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs of all the districts on Monday, Siddaramaiah said that providing drinking water should be a priority and private borewells should be taken over for this purpose. He also told the officials to disallow borewell water from being used for agriculture.

He also directed the officials to stop the transport of fodder to other states. “At present, we have enough fodder to last us for three weeks. But if we continue to transport fodder to other states, then we will be in trouble. So we have to stop this,” he said.

A task force has been constituted in each Assembly constituency to collate information about number of cattle, availability of fodder and expected amount of fodder required.

He also advised the CEOs to ensure that adequate jobs are provided under MGNREGA to stop migration of farmers. At present, the state has received approval to generate 10 crore human days from the previously approved six crore human days.

Siddaramaiah also said that the four Cabinet sub committees on drought will tour the drought-hit areas to review relief works. He also said that the collective crop loss due to drought during kharif and rabi season was Rs 25,000 crore.

CM also questioned the officers why they were not clearing the air about how much aid had been received and how it had been spent. “The Central government had said it would give Rs 1,782.44 crore, but this money has not been given yet.

Instead of ensuring the Central government releases this money, Opposition parties are spreading canards that we have not spent the amount released. Why are the officials not clearing the air about this?” he stressed that officers should explain how the money had been spent.