Threat of drought looms large
Apart from the conventional drought belts such as North Karnataka threat of famine looms large in other parts of the state as well.
86 taluks of 23 districts have already faced shortfall of rain as per the state government. Another 14 Taluks entered that list on Monday. Revenue department has initiated work to prepare a list of drought stricken regions to be sent to the centre to seek aid. Report on crop loss would also be submitted to the centre. Survey has been undertaken in regions where there is rain shortfall and declared drought.
Details like depreciating groundwater table crop loss shortage of cattle feed and shortage of drinking water would be included in the report. Shortage of rain and increased dryness in the environment for more than 3 weeks would be considered as parameters for this report which would help decide the drought level in the region.
Along with 86 taluks, Anekal in Bangalore district, Devanahalli, Tumkur, Turuvekere, Holalkere, Hosadurga, Davanagere, Jagalur, Pandavapura, Aurad, Basavakalyan, Athani, Bilagi, Mudhol areas has been declared as drought stricken regions. Government has responded to drought situation after much delay. Floods in Kodagu and other natural disasters to cover the focus of administration from the drought situation looming in other areas of the state.
Kalburgi in Bijapur, which are tur/pigeon pea growing regions, have faced worst crisis ever. Their main crops such as cotton and tur have already failed with flowers that would turn into seeds, falling off the dry plants. Temperature is getting scathing hot with every passing day and this has got the farmers very worried about their crops.
Failed crop would mean increased loans which would be difficult to repay.
They bought seeds for cotton on loan. And since rains have failed, they will never find a way to repay this loan. And this is a very worrying time for farmers. The heat has already increased in Koppal, Bijapur, Raichur and Kalaburgi. Situation of drinking water is very grave in Bijapur and surrounding areas and state government is supplying drinking water through tankers. But the quantity of water is never enough for families. Because every family barely gets two buckets of water.
Lakes and tanks have dried groundwater is depleted people barely have water to drink or take bath.
MGNREGA is not being implemented effectively. Officers are not submitting accounts hence the bills are not being passed this delaying payments. Though each day's job should ensure a payment of Rs 249, people never get this and fake bills are being generated to deprive the poor of rightful earnings. Job for 100 days is not sufficient under these dire circumstances, and people are demanding that at least 300 days of work is needed to keep their families from going hungry.
Rains have failed in all phases and though officers are suggesting alternate crops, there are barely any takers for that owing to no rains. state government has to bring this to the notice of Central government to get more help and funds along with resources. Relief measures have to be initiated and drinking water problem has to be solved. The issue of migration has to be checked to ensure socio economic balance. Chief minister has to visit drought stricken areas to understand the gravity of the situation.
Not just North Karnataka, some areas in Dakshina Kannada have also turned into permanent drought stricken villages. Kolar Chikkaballapur and Tumkur have been facing shortfall of rain since many years. government has to initiate novel methods of conserving water like desilting the tanks in These areas to collect more rain water which can be used later for various purposes. The drought situation this time is a lot grave than ever. Hence the state cannot sit on the figures submitted by officers to offer help. District incharge ministers have visit their areas to understand the progress of the works that have been undertaken to tackle the problem.
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'Engineered narratives': West Bengal guv on alleged molestation charges against him
Kolkata, May 2: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Thursday said he will not be cowed down by “engineered narratives” and the "truth shall triumph” after TMC leaders claimed that a woman working at Raj Bhavan levelled allegations of molestation against him.
In a statement, the Governor said, “Truth shall triumph. I refuse to be cowed down by engineered narratives. If anybody wants some election benefits by maligning me, God bless them. But they cannot stop my fight against corruption and violence in Bengal,”
To the Raj Bhavan staff "who expressed solidarity with him following some derogatory narratives that were circulated by two disgruntled employees as agents of political parties," a communication by Raj Bhawan said.
The Governor’s statement came after senior TMC leaders claimed this evening in a series of social media posts that the woman, who had levelled the allegations, has been taken to a police station to complain against Bose.
Though police sources said they received a verbal complaint, there was no official word on whether a formal complaint had been registered.
“BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose was accused of molesting a woman. How utterly appalling and Horrifying. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan today. The complainant has been taken to the Hare Street police station for filing a complaint. The woman has accused the Governor of molesting her. Shocking and disgraceful,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose said in a post on X.
Fellow TMC MP Saket Gokhale also posted on his X account regarding the issue.
West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Shashi Panja said it is “shameful” that the Governor has maligned his post and has used it to “torture a woman”.
“It is appalling and shocking to see such an incident. This is the same Governor who had reached out to Sandeshkhali to talk about women’s rights and Nari Shakti. This is shameful that the Governor sought undue advantages in the pretext of giving her a permanent job. We want Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be addressing rallies in Bengal tomorrow to react on this issue,” she said.
According to sources in the Governor's House, the "woman employee with the help of her alleged boyfriend who is also an employee of the Raj Bhavan was blocking complaints (from people) being sent to the Election Commission of India.
"When she was reprimanded for that, she went outside and alleged molestation. She is in the habit of throwing tantrums against her colleagues because of some disease," a Raj Bhavan official said.
The West Bengal Governor and the TMC government have shared an acrimonious relationship since he assumed office in November 2022 and had several run-ins on various issues.
The BJP said it has to be seen whether this a “conspiracy by the TMC” or has an “iota of truth in it”.
“We all know that the TMC is politically cornered on the issue of SSC scam and is looking for a breathing space. So this needs to be seen whether this is a conspiracy by the TMC or it has any iota of truth in it,” BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said.
BIG. Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose accused of molesting a woman. How utterly APPALLING and HORRIFYING. Ahead of @narendramodi visit to Kolkata who is supposed to stay overnight at Raj Bhavan, a woman has alleged that she was molested while she went to meet the Governor at Raj…
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) May 2, 2024
Shameful that a constitutional office holder should try to prejudice an impartial investigation by attacking the motive of the complainant. We have seen this happen in that infamous Saturday Hearing of the Supreme Court. Respect women! https://t.co/E6eJLQvFXO
— sanjoy ghose (@advsanjoy) May 2, 2024
