Waive interest on farm loans, says Siddaramaiah

MYSORE: Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah urged the state government to waive off the interest on agricultural loans in wake of prevailing drought situation in the state.He said that the government should announce waiving of interest on loans borrowed from various banks in the state by the farmers.After inspecting farms and fields in Halepura, Mukkudahgalli and other villages in Chamrajnagar taluk, he said that the banks should put off recovery of loans and convert short term loans into long term. Observing that many taluks have received less than normal rains, he said that the government should immediately take up drought-relief works, and provide fodder through fodder banks as they have lost the crops in rain-fed areas. Accusing the government of failing to prepare to tackle drought situation in 71 taluks and drinking water scarcity, he said that Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who claimed that there is no dearth of funds for drought-relief works, has not released funds to sink more borewells. “What works can be taken up with Rs. 54 lakh available with the Deputy Commissioners,” he asked.Siddaramaiah said that the state government that has made preparations to submit a memorandum, seeking additional funds, is blaming the Centre. He criticised the state government for taking initiative to step up power generation by placing orders for more coal from Orissa.He urged the government to take drought and power issues seriously. MLAs H S Mahadeva Prasad, C Puttaranaga Shetty, R Narendra and zilla panchayat president Rajeshwari accompanied Siddaramaiah.