State delegation to visit Delhi for drought aid

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said here on Friday that a delegation would

visit New Delhi soon to seek funds

from the Centre for drought relief works.“A

delegation will be taken to New Delhi

shortly to seek funds for drought relief works from the Union government,” he

said at a press conference here. Shettar also said that separate memoranda will

be submitted as per the instructions of the Centre.“Union

Ministers Sharad Pawar and Jairam Rakesh have suggested to submit separate

memoranda for long-term and short-term projects to handle the drought situation.Considering

their suggestion, we are breaking-up our demands of Rs 11,400 crore into Rs 7,000

crore for short-term and Rs 4,400 crore for long-term projects,” he explained.However,

the Chief Minister did not comment on how the government which is providing

drought relief works in the Kharif season, will handle a possible drought or

flood situation in the Rabi season.Shettar

also said he would try to convince the Central Drought Team on cloud seeding. The

team is touring the state for the past three days and will be in Bangalore

on August 25.Meanwhile,

Confusion reigned in the district when former and present chief ministers made

separate visits on the same day. Despite Shettar’s presence here, former chief

minister B S Yeddyurappa’s visit gave the impression that he was the ‘alternative

chief minister’.The

BJP leaders were confused as to whom to show their loyalty to. The faction divide

was only too evident.Meanwhile

in Bangalore, Minister for

Cooperation B J Puttaswamy challenged the Congress leaders in state to pressure

the Centre to waive farm loans taken from scheduled banks.

He said the total advances made to farmers through

these banks stood at Rs 19,135 crore.