The Hindu : Centre releases additional grains for State

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Centre releases additional grains for State

By Our Correspondent

CHIKMAGALUR FEB. 16. The Centre has released 1.65 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in addition to the two lakh tonnes released in the first stage for the food-for-work programme, the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, has said.

Speaking to presspersons here today, he said that the Government would approach the Government of India for additional foodgrains. The chairman of the Cabinet sub-committee had met the task force chairman in Delhi in this regard, Mr. Krishna said and appealed to the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to release more foodgrains.

Reacting to the statement of the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, D.H.Shankar Murthy, that the State's coffers were empty and that the Government was depending on grants from the Centre, Mr. Krishna retorted that Mr. Shankar Murthy would realise the State's financial position when the Budget was presented. He pointed out that the State's finances were being managed without resorting to overdraft.

The Chief Minister said that importance was being given to groundwater resources through desilting of tanks and conservation of soil and water.

In reply to a question, Mr. Krishna said that presence of fluoride in underground water was a problem that had to be dealt with. He said that 100 defluoridation plants had been established in the State and tenders had been called for an additional 50 units.

C.R.Sageer Ahmed, Minister for Housing, and K.B.Koliwad, Minister of State for Rural Water Supply, were present.

Inaugurating a high school building and a hostel built under the Integrated Tribal Development Programme at Baskal in Mudigere taluk, Mr. Krishna reiterated that importance was being given to education, especially of girls, as a survey had revealed that girls formed a major part of school dropouts.

Expressing satisfaction with the achievements of his Government, Mr. Krishna said that the literacy rate had risen to 67 per cent in the State. Pointing out that the role of the Government and its agencies was confined to creating the right atmosphere, he stressed the need for parents to ensure that their children attended school.

B.L.Shankar, Chairman of the Legislative Council, was present. Motamma, Minister for Women and Child Development, welcomed the gathering. T.D.Raje Gowda, ZP president, proposed a vote of thanks.

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