Shettar seeks Rs 2,000 crore central assistance

New Delhi: With Karnataka facing acute scarcity of drinking water and fodder due to deficient monsoon rains, new Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought an immediate Central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore to tackle the situation.

Heading a high-power delegation, Shettar made a strong pitch for extension of jobs under MGNREGA for another 100 days to arrest migration of people from rural areas.

In his first meeting with Singh after he was sworn-in last week, Shettar also demanded that a new Study Team be sent to the state to assess the latest situation and release interim relief.

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Tuesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought an immediate Central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore to tackle the situation.

He told Singh that due to failure of monsoon in 2011, 123 taluks under 24 districts were declared drought-affected and that the situation extended beyond the monsoon season of 2012.

"Fodder position has become precarious. Drinking water is being supplied through tankers in more than 700 villages and 300 wards in urban areas. An immediate central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore is requested to mitigate the situation," Shettar told a press conference here.

Noting that people are migrating to different places in search of jobs due to drought, the Chief Minister said he requested the Prime Minister that jobs under MGNREGA be extended up to 200 days as against 100 days.

He also said the kahriff crops have failed completely and ground water depletion has posed serious problems.

Shettar also noted that Government had released an amount of Rs 282.35 crore in June this year based on the report of Central Inter-Ministerial team.

"We have also requested the Centre to depute a Study team immediately to assess the latest situation and release interim relief," he said.

Shettar did not oblige journalists on questions relating to state politics. "I know," was all he said when asked about his ministerial colleagues being unhappy over portfolio allocation.

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