Following three consecutive drought years, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has asked Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa for a comprehensive report on the prevailing weather condition and rainfall in the State.
Addressing presspersons here on Thursday, Mr. Thimmappa said he had directed all the Deputy Commissioners to submit reports. “A comprehensive report will be prepared on the basis of the DCs’ reports and will be submitted to the Chief Minister. This will be placed in the Cabinet and a decision will be taken on whether this year can be declared drought-hit,” he said. Pointing out that the State had not received the expected rainfall, the Minister said: “Although the situation is bad, weather experts are hopeful that there will be a revival of monsoon by this month end. The government has also planned to take up cloud seeding,” he said.
To meet President
The State government’s Bill to regularise dwelling places of landless agricultural labourers in Karnataka that was passed by the legislature in March is awaiting Presidential accord.
Replying to queries, Mr. Thimmappa said he was planning to meet the President next week. He said it was necessary to amend the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961 to provide ownership rights of such houses to landless agricultural labourers. Clusters of habitats known as Lambani Tanda, Gollarahatti, Vaddarahatti, Kurubarhatti, Nayakarahatti, Majare Grama, Haadi, Doddi, Palya, Camp, Colony or any other such unrecorded habitations will be converted into revenue villages in various parts of the State.