Senior Congress MLA and former Karnataka minister H K Patil on Monday set October 10 as the deadline for the state government to declare Gadag district drought affected, saying he would decide on resigning his Assembly membership if the demand was not met.
“After a meeting with our District Minister, Bayareddy, we all were convinced that there is a drought, and we resolved in our MLAs’ meeting that Gadag district as such is to be declared drought hit, not only Gadag taluk. “The Chief Minister, looking at the situation and also the reports received through the media about the drought in Gadag taluk, chose Gadag to visit first. And he was fully convinced. Patil alleged that officials had disregarded the chief minister’s directions and excluded Gadag while declaring areas with lower rainfall deficits drought affected.
Patil also pointed to Shivakumar’s September 1 visit to Gadag, when the chief minister travelled from Kadampur to Kursakoppa. He came to Gadag on September 1, and he went right from Kadampur to Kursakoppa. “Where there is a 20% deficit, these officers have declared them as drought affected. Gadag is at minus 49%, and they have chosen to keep it aside,” he said.
Because of the grave situation being faced by farmers,” Patil said, he was really very unhappy and disturbed.
And we very specifically said Gadag taluk is also to be declared as drought hit. Unfortunately, that was not conceded by the officers,” he said. He said Shivakumar had seen the condition of the crops and was convinced of the severity of the drought.
“Through this three day session, I will try to put whatever political pressure on the government. I will use this forum to convince everyone. Patil has written to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar alleging that officials have kept Gadag out of the drought declaration despite a 49% rainfall deficit and widespread crop failure. He said the issue would be raised during the ongoing three day special legislature session and that he would continue pressing the government until October 2 before deciding whether to resign. And if, for any reason, I fail, I will continue my persuasion till October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. If nothing happens even till then, by October 10, I will decide to resign my legislator post,” he said.
Patil said a meeting of local elected representatives, attended by district in charge minister Bayareddy, had reached a consensus.
