Will raise issue of drought management in winter session, says Shettar

The need for efficient management of drought in Karnataka will be raised in the upcoming winter session of the legislature, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Jagadish Shettar, has said.

As per officials records, 136 taluks in Karnataka are reeling under severe drought. Every district will be toured to get details of the measures being taken to bail out farmers and the rural people.

This exercise has been officially launched in Dharwad district. Covered till Nov 16Other districts will be covered till November 16, he said, chairing a meeting here on Wednesday to review drought management.

The family of every farmer who had committed suicide would be visited and asked whether or not it had got compensation. Besides, technical hurdles in getting compensation will also be discussed, Shettar said. A comprehensive report will be filed and discussed in the winter session, he added.

The BJP leader said that 600 farmers had committed suicide in Karnataka this financial year as their crops failed or they were unable to repay loans. But the families of just 120 farmers have got compensation, he added.