R Ashok visited drought affected villages of Kalaburagi

Kalaburagi: Opposition leader R Ashok visited drought-hit villages in the home constituency of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge here on Tuesday.

He heard the problems of tur farmers who lost their crops due to irregular rains in Pala village and criticized the Karnataka government for not distributing compensation after assessing the crop loss.

Addressing media persons, Ashok said he would move an adjournment motion demanding loan waiver and compensation for farmers during the winter session of the Assembly to be held in Belagavi from December 4.

Also read: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticizes Center for not releasing ‘even a paisa’ for drought relief to Karnataka
“I am visiting Kalaburagi for the first time after becoming the opposition leader. I inquired about the farmers who did not get compensation even after one and a half months of crop assessment. Ministers did not visit drought-hit villages to console the farmers. They are busy with election campaigns in the neighboring state of Telangana. It appears that the state treasury has become empty after the launch of the guarantee scheme”, he said.

Urging the Karnataka government to immediately distribute compensation as per SDRF norms, Ashok claimed that the previous BJP government compensated Rs 270 crore to tur farmers for crop loss due to floods without waiting for the release of funds from the Centre. Had distributed.

“It is a normal process to give compensation to farmers from the state treasury first, which the Center releases later. The authorities have not surveyed the crop losses properly. The Karnataka government is irresponsible as it switches off irrigation pumpsets during the night. Is supplying electricity.” “, he alleged.

Responding to the Centre’s role in farmers’ loan waiver, he elaborated that when HD Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister, the state government had waived off loans without waiting for grants from the Central government.

Pointing out that the Center is paying Rs 6,000 per year to farmers under the PM Kisan Yojana, he said the state should distribute its share of Rs 4,000 assistance to help in sowing operations in the Rabi season.

“Due to the failure of monsoon, pigeon pea plants have grown only 2 feet instead of the normal 4-5 feet, resulting in crop loss. I will fight till the farmers get justice during the Assembly session in Belagavi. I have promised to distribute compensation. Arrangements had been made. When I was the Revenue Minister, farmers had launched different applications in two months. But, the Karnataka government has not given compensation despite several pleas”, he said.