DVS drought plan runs into babu apathy: Report
Neither the money, nor the commitment, is a constraint to redress grievances of the people affected by the severe drought in the state, was the message Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda tried to convey to the people of 24 districts, which have been affected by drought. But a report submitted by the revenue department to the chief minister early this week has come out with startling revelations, starkly contradicting his claims. The report clearly shows that the deputy commissioners have not taken remedial measures.
“Though 99 villages in Raichur district have been facing an acute shortage of drinking water, the Deputy Commissioner has neither spent a single rupee from the `17.38 crore till last week under the drought relief works, nor made any arrangements to supply drinking water through tankers to these villages,” the report says. The CM video-conferenced with the DCs on carrying out drought relief work. But the report states the district administration did not follow through.
Bengaluru Rural, Kolar and Chikballapur districts did not take up work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, despite the CM’s instructions to the DCs to expedite job creation with Kolar and Chikballapur’s employment schemes just above 40 per cent, the report says. Majority of the DCs had not reviewed the drought relief works at all, despite Mr Gowda passing specific orders to review them every fortnight. Bidar, Gadag and Koppal deputy commissioners held two meetings, while Bellary and Haveri DCs three, Bengaluru Rural, one.
The ministers’ teams stressed the need to work out strategies to tide over natural disasters by creating check dams and massive afforestation but the report shows no work was taken up.
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