State cabinet approves proposal to declare 21 more taluks as drought hit

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet has given its consent to declare 21 more taluks as drought hit, taking the total number of such taluks to 216.

As such, it has claimed a total relief of Rs 5,326.87 crore from the Centre, the state's Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H K Patil said on Thursday.

Karnataka has a total of 236 taluks in 31 districts. Briefing reporters about the cabinet decisions, he said that the total agricultural and horticultural crop loss in the state due to drought is estimated to be about Rs 33,770 crore, and the state has claimed relief of Rs 4,414 from the Centre for this, as per norms.

"Also, Rs 355 crore has been sought for the loss of livestock, and drinking water relief of Rs 554 crore. So the total relief claimed is Rs 5,326.87 crore," he said.

The minister said the cabinet had also expressed concern over central ministers delaying appointments for state ministers seeking to make requests for relief in person.

The chief minister has tasked the revenue minister with visiting Delhi to speed things up, he added. With an aim at ensuring the delivery of justice at the doorstep of citizens in rural areas, the cabinet has given in-principle clearance to establish 100 rural courts across the state.

The minister said that the village courts would be set up for panchayats or a cluster of panchayats and they will be of the same level as courts of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class.

In other decisions, the cabinet has given administrative approval for a Rs 20 crore programme to strengthen and equip 11 police training schools in the state. In a move aimed at providing Piped Natural Gas (PNG) for domestic, commercial and industrial customers, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicles, the cabinet has given approval to the 'State Policy for the Development of City Gas Distribution Network'.

Sharing the highlights of the policy, Patil said it would promote the adoption of natural gas by the state as a green and clean fuel and ensure faster implementation of City Gas Distribution (CGD) infrastructure.

The cabinet has also given post-facto clearance for extending the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which grants Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family, to sexual minorities as well.

It has also been decided to continue with the existing system, by providing cash in lieu of the additional five kg of rice to beneficiaries, under the Anna Bhagya scheme.

It has also has given its approval for bringing in an ordinance that will tweak the law on compulsory rural service for doctors.