BANGALORE: Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has urged his successor D V Sadananda Gowda to release Rs 200 crore immediately for providing employment to people in drought-hit areas under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGP).In his six-page letter addressed to Gowda after undertaking a four-day tour in the Koppal, Gadag, Bijapur, Raichur and Yadgir districts to study the drought conditions there, Yeddyurappa also wanted his party government to provide Rs 25 lakh to every drought-prone taluk for sinking new borewells, repair of borewells and other relief works.Yeddyurappa who embarked on a visit to the drought-hit areas in the wake of criticism against him for resorting to pressure tactics to regain the lost chief ministership at a time when 123 taluks were facing drought, urged Gowda not to wait for the Centre to release funds and make available required resources for drought relief.He said the MGNREG programme has come to a halt as the Centre has not released Rs 400 crore due to Karnataka, and said the state should provide Rs 200 crore and ensure employment to people. The MPs from the state recently petitioned the Central government for Rs 2,600 crore financial assistance for drought relief works and the chief minister should lead an all party delegation and seek Rs 1,000 crore immediate assistance.Yeddyurappa has suggested that the chief secretary visit all the drought-hit districts, appoint a team of officials to monitor relief works and also drag the attention of the district administrations towards the works required to be taken up.He wanted the government to open Goshalas, relief centres and ensure drinking water and fodder to those affected by the drought.
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