70 taluks in state drought-hit

BANGALORE: The state government has declared 70 taluks coming under 21 districts as drought-hit and has instructed the district authorities to take up relief measures on priority.Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda held a meeting with deputy commissioners and CEOs of zilla panchayats on Tuesday and reviewed the drought situation.Following this, the decision was taken.This will enable the state to take up relief measures besides seeking special funds from the Centre.Under the guidelines issued by the Centre in 2004, the area which has received less than the average rainfall with a continuous dry-spell for four weeks will be declared drought-hit.The districts under which these taluks fall are: Ramanagaram, Kolar, Tumkur, Chitradurga, Chamarajnagar, Mysore, Mandya, Bellary, Koppal, Raichur, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Bidar, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag, Dharwad, Hassan, Chikmagalur and Belgaum.Authorities of districts have been instructed to start cattle camps and stock fodder.The government has relaxed the ban on fodder transport in these districts.This apart, a Cabinet subcommittee headed by the Chief Minister has been formed to take stock of the situation.A memorandum to be submitted to the Centre is being prepared, said a release from the CM’s office DRY TALUKSChannapatna, Kanakapura, Chikballapur, Chintamani, Gowribidanur, Tumkur, Kunigal, Madhugiri, Pavagada, Sira, Challakere, Chitradurga, Hosadurga, Molakalmuru, Chamarajanagar, Gundlupet, Kollegal, Yalandur, Krishnarajanagar, Nanjangud, T Narsipur, Krishnarajpet, Maddur, Malavalli, Mandya, Nagamangala, Bellary, Hospet, Hagaribommanahalli, Kudligi, Sandur, Siraguppa, Gangavati, Koppal, Kushtagi, Yelaburga, Devadurga, Lingasgur, Manvi, Raichur, Sindhanur, Afzalpur, Aland, Chincholi, Chittapur, Gulbarga, Jewargi, Sedam, Shahapur, Shorapur, Bidar, Bilagi, Jamakhandi, Mudhol, Basavanabagevadi, Bijapur, Indi, Sindagi, Gadag, Mundargi, Navalgund, Arsikere, Channarayapatna, Hassan, Holenarasipur and Athani