Dharwad: Following continued drought situation in the region, the district officials have been asked to provide employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) project for a minimum of 100 days to rural people.
Chairing the Karnataka Development Programmes (KDP) review meeting, District In-charge Minister Vinay Kulkarni said the villagers were in trouble due to the slow agricultural activities for want of sufficient rainfall in the district.
Works such as construction of bunds and removal of silt in local tanks should be taken up involving the local people without further delay, he said. “The groundwater table has further dipped to 800 ft from 700 ft. This is an alarming situation. To increase the water table, check dams should be constructed.
There is every possibility of drinking water shortage surfacing in the district and hence, rural people should be sensitised in using water judiciously”, he said.
Officials of the Department of Agriculture informed the meeting that against an average of 235 mm rainfall till July third week, the district had received 137 mm rainfall which was almost 40 percent deficient.
Zilla Panchayat President Chaitra Shirur, MLAs C Shivalli, N H Konaraddi, Deputy Commissioner S B Bommanahalli, Superintendent of Police Sangeetha G and others were present.
