BAGALKOT: Taking a dig at Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Siddaramaiah’s recent criticism against the state government in tackling drought, Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said Opposition parities should be constructive in their criticism and give suggestions to help the government tackle drought and for the overall development of the state in general.He told media persons at Savalgi helipad in Bagalkot district on Tuesday that mere criticisms would not help solve people’s woes.“God has given me two ears to serve the people. I will use one ear to accept criticisms, and the other to discard false ones,” he said, and added that he was always ready to accept constructive suggestions from the Opposition for the welfare of the state.Gowda said the Central team of officers, led by Vijayakumar, who reviewed the drought situation in the state appreciated the relief works done by the state, and Siddaramaiah should take note of it before levelling charges against his government. He said he would take all Opposition leaders into confidence to manage drought, and a delegation would be taken to New Delhi in this regard. The chief minister said that 15 ministers were touring drought-hit districts and taking necessary steps to tackle the situation.Terming the statement made by some leaders that MGNREGS funds were not used by the state false, he said the Centre had released `700 crore under the scheme and it would be distributed among gram panchayats (GP). “Labourers were not coming forward to work under the scheme as MGNREGS wages were meagre.”Stating that there was no dearth of funds to tackle drought, he said `369 crore had been released in addition to funds allotted for ongoing projects.Generators or tankers would be used to supply drinking water and goshalas would be opened wherever there was a need, the CM said. There was no forcible loan recovery and the demand to waive crop loans would be considered after consulting the departments concerned, he added.
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