K’taka govt did not prepare for drought, held no meeting with farmers: BJP

Mandya, July 4 (IANS) Karnataka BJP on Saturday accused the state government of making no preparations for drought and holding no meetings with farmers, as Opposition Leader R. Ashoka visited the KRS reservoir in Mandya district.

Speaking to reporters after his visit, Ashoka charged that while the government advises farmers to grow alternative crops, it has taken no steps itself.

He demanded that the Chief Minister should have announced compensation for farmers’ losses, recalling that during the BJP regime, double the compensation was provided.

Ashoka demanded that the government now provide Rs 50,000 per acre as compensation to affected farmers.

Despite the water level in the KRS reservoir dropping due to rainfall deficit, the Karnataka government led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has taken no measures, Ashoka said, reiterating his demand for immediate compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre.

He claimed that within one month of D.K. Shivakumar becoming Chief Minister, all reservoirs in the state have dried up. He noted that only 6 TMC of water remains in KRS, with inflow at 900 cusecs, but expressed suspicion that more water was being released outward.

Ashoka said the requirement is 3 TMC per month, which could be used for drinking water. He pointed out that farmers have sown crops in more than 1 lakh acres, but the Chief Minister has called for not growing crops.

He further remarked that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for water conservation, Congress had criticised it loudly, but now they are giving the same advice to farmers. Ashoka chided that if they had courage, they should have told Tamil Nadu farmers not to grow crops.

He alleged that even though the Tamil Nadu government passed a resolution against the Mekedatu project, the state government has not spoken against it. He claimed that to please their coalition partner in Tamil Nadu, they are cheating Karnataka’s farmers.

According to officials, only 5 per cent sowing has taken place. Ashoka pointed out that at this juncture, CM Shivakumar should have called a meeting of farmer leaders and discussed cropping, but instead, they are in a hurry to call tenders for projects like garbage and tunnel roads.

He asserted that the government has no interest in farmers, adding that not a single meeting has been held to discuss rainfall deficit, sowing, or any related issue.

He questioned the absence of a Minister for the Agriculture Department and ministers in the Cabinet, asking whether they were waiting to make payments in Delhi.

Ashoka stated that farmers in this region are demanding either water for crops or compensation, and that the Chief Minister should discuss with these farmers and talk about compensation. He added that otherwise, the government should openly admit that they have failed.

He said the Tamil Nadu government has demanded Cauvery water, and at such a time, the government should have woken up and addressed the water problem.

If farmers protest against land acquisition, they are being lathi-charged, Ashoka said, adding that such administration will not last long. He also criticised Home Minister Priyank Kharge, stating that he has absolutely no understanding of the Home Department and only talks about RSS.

He alleged that the government has allowed the swallowing of 3,500 acres of government land in Bidadi, and remarked that since D.K. Shivakumar calls himself a businessman, not much can be expected from him.

–IANS

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