Madhu Bangarappa, Minister in-charge of Shivamogga district, on Saturday, chaired a meeting in Shivamogga to review the drought situation in Shivamogga and Shivamogga Rural constituencies. He gave instructions to the officers to provide work for rural people under the VB-G RAM G scheme.

The Minister opined that the loss of rainfall in the early days of monsoon caused hardship to rural people. The officers must make better use of the VB-G RAM G scheme to ensure the rural people get employment. He insisted the officers spread awareness among the public about the benefits of the scheme through gram sabhas and distributing pamphlets.

Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat CEO N. Hemanth said that the scheme had been in force in the district since July 1 and officers had been instructed to take up at least one major work compulsorily in each panchayat. He also said that 82 works necessary to avoid landslips during the heavy rains had been taken up in the district.

The officers informed the Minister that the Tunga reservoir at Gajanur in Shivamogga taluk was full, while Bhadra reservoir at Lakkavalli in Tarikere taluk was only 50% full. If the inflow to the Bhadra reservoir increased further, the available water could be utilised for cultivation. However, the farmers had been asked not to cultivate anticipating water from reservoirs.

Shivamogga MLA S.N. Channabasappa raised the issue that the families that lost their dwelling places during heavy rains had not yet received compensation. He urged the government to enhance the relief amount to ₹5 lakh for those whose houses collapsed completely.

Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Puryanaik, MLC Dhananjaya Sarji, Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti, SP B. Nikhil and other officers were present at the meeting.