CM takes dig at BJP's drought study tour, says it should approach Centre and get relief for state
Bengaluru (PTI): Taking a dig at BJP's state-wide drought study tour, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday asked the opposition party to approach the Central government and ensure that the state gets the relief funds at the earliest.
Pointing out the delay in release of drought relief funds from the Centre, he also questioned the BJP's concern for the state and its farmers.
In Karnataka, 216 out of the total 236 taluks have been declared drought-hit by the state government.
"Let them do it. The Central team has already come and studied the drought situation. They have not yet submitted the report to the Government of India. Here, the BJP, for the sake of politics, are saying that they will go on a drought study tour," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about the saffron party's ongoing drought study tour.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, let BJP leaders go to the Central government instead, and ensure that the state gets drought relief funds at the earliest.
"The Central team has already studied the situation. We have also studied. Let them study. I don't have any objection. I'm not saying that they should not study, but it's been long since we sent the memorandum to the Central government seeking relief, and the Central team visiting the state. They (Central team) have not yet given the report and the Union government has not yet released relief," he added.
The BJP has formed 17 teams headed by leaders, including former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, to tour all 33 districts of the state and assess the drought situation till November 10.
The party has said that it will submit a report to the government, and seek special time in the next Assembly session for a debate on the issue.
Pointing out that the state has sought a drought relief of Rs 17,900 crore as per norms, while the actual loss is to the tune of Rs 33,700 crore, Siddaramaiah said, if BJP leaders have concerns about the state's villages, farmers, and Karnataka, let them ensure that the state receives relief funds at the earliest.
"There are 25 MPs (of BJP from the state), let them sit there (in Delhi) and get it done," he said, alleging that the concerned Central Ministers did not even give an appointment to the state's ministerial team, who had gone to Delhi, to meet them and appraise them of the situation.
"What concern do they (BJP) have for Karnataka?" he questioned.
Responding to a question about JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy's purported statement alleging that the drought survey was not done scientifically, the CM said, "Who did the survey? The Central team comes under whom? Let him blame the Union government for stating that they have not done it scientifically."
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
