Koppal/Bengaluru, December 24: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that the farm loan would be completely waived off by January 31 next year.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the government has considered the loan waiver as a serious and priority issue and by January 31 next, all farm loans would be waived off. The statements on creating suspicion on loan waiver should not be entertained. BJP people have been misleading the people saying that the government has cut the funds of other departments and diverted it to loan waiver scheme, which is not true. The government has conducted farmers meeting five times in the last seven months, which means everyone should understand the seriousness of the government. None have spoken about farmers problems during BJP government. Though the farmers from Tamil Nadu staged a nude protest in New Delhi, the central government has not taken it seriously, he alleged.

BJP had promised of bringing in comprehensive sand policy. But they had not done it. The problem was still there. But opposition leader KS Eshwarappa has been making allegations. Sand should reach the people without any problem, for which, he has directed the officials. Steps were being taken to check illegal sand business. Illegal sand business was not started during coalition government. This business was being carried out between the elected representatives and officials, he said.

He was aware of the problems of grapes and pomegranate farmers. It was his priority to introduce pro-people programmes in the coalition government, he said.

JDS district working president Veeresh Mahantaiah Mutt, state secretary KM Syed, spokesperson Mounesh Vaddatti, leaders Amare Gouda Patil, Pradeep Gouda Mali Patil and others were present.



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New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.

Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.

"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.

"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country

"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.

"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.

Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.

"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.

"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.