Yeddyurappa seeks Rs 5,000 crore central help to tackle drought

Former Chief Minister B S

Yeddyurappa today urged the central government to announce Rs

5,000 crore interim package for taking up relief works in

drought-affected areas in Karnataka. Speaking to reporters here, he accused the central study

team of not making sincere efforts to know the ground

situation existing in drought-affected areas. "Karnataka is facing a severe drought situation since 1971

and all horticulture crops have been fully damaged,"

Yeddyurappa said. He also urged all leaders belonging to various political

parties to unite and put pressure on the central government to

release necessary funds to take up drought relief works. Yeddyurappa asked the central government to extend special

pilot scheme for distributing ration to all drought affected

districts of the state. "I will submit a report to Chief

Minister Jagadish Shettar on the prevailing drought

situation," he added.