App based crop survey to be taken up in Karnataka, says minister Krishna Byre Gowda
Bengaluru, Jun 28: The Karnataka cabinet has decided to take up 'app based crop survey' in an organised way to ascertain the exact acreage under various crops in the state during both kharif and rabi seasons, Rural development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said Friday.
The minister said Rs 90 crore has been approved for this purpose.
Byre Gowda noted that as per NITI Ayog, no other state in the country has taken up such accurate crop survey.
"Under this crops being cultivated by farmers in about 2.20 crore plots in the state will be surveyed using a mobile based app which is GPS enabled and the updating has to be done by visiting that specific plot, also uploading photos," the minister said.
The survey will result in government having actual information on acreage under various crops that can be used while claiming relief from the Centre during natural calamities like drought or floods, he told reporters after the cabinet meeting.
Private surveyors, who are at least tenth pass, will be used for the survey and they would be paid Rs 10 per farmer's plot.
Gowda pointed out that crop survey has been done during the last 2 years on a preliminary basis.
Other decisions taken by the cabinet Friday include approval for the state's share of Rs 546 crore for this year under the Raita Suraksha Pradhan Mantri Fasal BimaYojana and tender process that have taken place for ten clusters under this programme for both kharif and rabi seasons.
All preparations were on to implement the programme by the agriculture and horticulture departments, he said.
The cabinet also discussed the demand for increasing reservation for ScheduledTribes from 3 per cent to 7.5 per cent in jobs and education sector.
The chief secretary has been asked examine the ways to do it and modalities that need to be followed and provide information during the next cabinet meeting, the minister said.
"Whether a committee has to be formed or a commission has to be formed to do it- is one matter.
The second is as there is 50 per cent bar on reservation, whether it can be done within the limit or can we cross that limit and its effects.. all these matters will be examined by chief secretary, based on which we will go ahead," he said.
On government's decision to go in for cloud seeding, the minister said preparations were on and certain approvals were awaited from the central government and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
It is likely to be taken up by second week of July, according to the minister.
"Mysuru and Hubbali will be two centres for cloud seeding from where aircraft for this purpose will operate, and seeding will be based on availability of clouds," he added.
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Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
