Chitradurga declared as drought-hit district

BANGALORE: The state government is all set to declare Chitradurga as a drought hit district as four out of six taluks of the district are facing drought due inadequate rains this monsoon.Fisheries Minister and Chitradurga district In-charge Minister Anand Asnotikar told reporters here on Monday that, around `432 crore worth standing crop was lost due to shortage of rains. Besides, there was a severe drinking water problem all across the district. To a question, the minister said that the survey on the crop-loss was being done and individual compensation for farmers would be announced soon. Stating that there was no shortage of funds to tackle the situation, the minister said that the state government had already released Rs. 2 crore for the purpose and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had assured of more funds in the future.Asnotikar, who along with people’s representatives of the district met the CM in the morning said that, he had requested to release Rs. 20.5 crore to address drinking water problems and for setting up of fodder banks and cow-sheds in drought-hit taluks.