BJP state president B.S. Yeddyurappa began his tour of drought-hit from Bidar on Wednesday by visiting the historic Narasimha Jharni temple that is facing acute water scarcity.
The rock-cut temple that was famous for the water channel that devotees had to wade through, has been closed for the public, as there is no water in the channel now.
Mr. Yeddyurappa urged the government to take some temporary measures to release water in the channel and reopen the temple. He said Bidar MP and BJP leader Bhagwant Khuba would spend his local area development funds to provide water to the temple.
He later visited the Ayyanora Bavi in Ashtur village and said he would urge the Deputy Commissioner and zilla panchayat’s chief executive officer to dredge wells in the village.
When he met women at the gram panchayat tap, they complained about the irregular water supply in the village. He directed zilla panchayat member Shakuntala Beldale to provide water regularly and to start works under MNREGA.
Later, Mr. Yeddyurappa strongly criticised the state government failing to take up drought relief. “Farmers are committing suicide, youth are migrating to cities for jobs, women are spending hours to collect water and cattle don’t have fodder. And yet, the officials have not started works under MNREGA, not supplying water through tankers, neither have they set up goshalas and fodder banks,” he charged and alleged that the officials had also failed to take up dredging and cleaning of wells and tanks.
Coming down heavily against Minister H.K. Patil for stating there was no drought in the state, he said: “How can a senior Minister make such a statement when the government itself has declared 136 taluks as drought-hit? Why did the government suspend 20 officials for neglecting drought relief works?”
Accusing the Chief Minister and other ministers of politicising the issue, he alleged that officials bring a few labourers ahead of their (CM and ministers) visit, only to take them away later.
Mr. Yeddyurappa criticised CM Siddaramaiah for not meeting farmers during his visit to drought-hit areas or seeking their feedback.
Asked about Anti Corruption Bureau, he said Mr. Siddaramaiah had set it up to protect the corrupt and not punish them.
