Shivalinge Gowda visits fields in Hassan, assures drought-hit farmers relief
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, newly inducted into Karnataka Cabinet, on Wednesday, visited parts of Hassan district to review the drought situation along with officers. It was
K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, newly inducted into Karnataka Cabinet, on Wednesday, visited parts of Hassan district to review the drought situation along with officers. It was his first official visit to the taluk after taking the oath as Minister. The Chief Minister designated him Minister in-charge of Hassan district. As he reached Kirisave, the entry point to Hassan district, Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari welcomed him. Many leaders of the Congress party, including Member of Parliament Shreyas M. Patel, were present. Speaking to the media, Mr. Shivalinge Gowda said that the Chief Minister had instructed the Cabinet colleagues to visit fields immediately and review the drought situation. “I am here to review the situation along with officers.
I am thankful to the people of Arasikere who elected me as their representative four times and the people of Hassan for their support," he said. Answering a question, Mr. Shivalinge Gowda said former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala had assured him a Cabinet berth at the time of joining the Congress in 2023. “The party has fulfilled its promise. I wish to work towards the development of the district with the cooperation of all elected representatives, keeping aside party affiliations," he stated. The Minister said the Chief Minister would allot portfolios within a day or two. However, he had not sought any particular portfolio. He would handle whatever the Chief Minister assigned him.
On no woman getting a chance in the Cabinet, he said it had been a mistake and the Party would soon set it right. Shivalinge Gowda, during his visit to Kirisave, interacted with the farmers. Many of them said that they were not in a position to grow ragi due to deficit rainfall. He visited the farm fields in parts of Honnenahalli, Baraguru Handpost. At Hulivala in Holenarasipur, he visited the maize farms and interacted with the growers. Many farmers complained to the Minister that they were not expecting returns from the field due to the disease Bilisuli – downy mildew. The Minister said that the farmers, who paid a premium for crop insurance, would get relief, besides the relief as per the NDRF guidelines.
“A large tract of agricultural land in the district has remained uncultivated because of deficit rainfall. Even in those farms where sowing was done, there was hardly any growth. Besides, the maize fields are badly hit by the disease," he said. The Minister said that the Chief Minister had asked him to visit the fields and bring reports on the impact of drought. “We are collecting information from the field, and the same will be sent to the Centre, seeking higher relief," he added. He was accompanied by MP Shreyas Patel and other elected representatives.
The BriefWire