Karnataka govt forms four cabinet sub-committees on drought
Bengaluru, Nov 23: The Karnataka government Friday said it has decided to constitute four cabinet sub-committees of senior ministers for each revenue division to ensure effective implementation of drought mitigation measures.
The state government has notified 100 taluks of 24 districts as drought affected.
"To ensure effective implementation of drought mitigation measures and to review drought mitigation works taken up by Deputy Commissioners, the government will constitute four cabinet sub-committees, comprising senior ministers, for each revenue division," Revenue Minister R V Deshpande said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said a senior officer of the rank of secretary or principal secretary would work as the coordinating officer in the cabinet sub-committees.
The committees would tour drought affected districts and hold meetings with all concerned and guide the Deputy Commissioners in drought relief and mitigation measures, the minister added.
Noting that the dry spell was continuing in the state, 'reeling under 49 per cent rain deficiency' in the rabi season, he said that the government's response to mitigate the impact of drought has been mainly on employment generation, provision of drinking water and fodder availability.
He said sufficient funds -- Rs 220 crore -- was available with Deputy Commissioners to take up drought mitigation works.
Apart from this, Rs 50 lakh (united fund) has been approved from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department to each drought affected taluk to take up drinking water related works, the minister said.
As of now drinking water was being supplied through tankers to 197 villages in 13 districts, officials said, adding that the situation was likely to exacerbate in the coming days and steps were being taken to respond to it.
Referring to drought and floods during the Kharif season of 2018, Deshpande said a 10 member inter-ministerial central team extensively toured 13 drought affected districts from November 17 to 19.
"The team is expected to submit its report by the end of this month and we are confident that the state will receive funds through NDRF in a short time," the minister said.
Deshpande also said as it was found that fodder was going to neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala,Andhra Pradesh Maharashtra and Goa,the cabinet sub-committee recently decided to ban movement of fodder to other states up to May 31, 2019.
The government anticipates a "problem" in the Rabi season also as the sowing acreage has fallen by about eight lakh hectares, compared to last year.
Officials said that the targeted area for rabi sowing was 31.80 lakh hectares. Till November 16, sowing was done in 20.76 lakh hectares against the normal 26.19lakh hectares.
Last year during the same period (Nov 16) sowing was completed in 28.22 lakh hectares, they said.
Deshpande also noted that the revenue department had conducted a 'File disposal week' from November 12-18, during which more than 2.56 lakh files were cleared.
"In Future also, we will try to evolve different strategies to clear about 7,97,258 files that are pending as on November 19," he said.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
