From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 26: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be touring the rain-affected districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru on July 31 to inspect the rain havoc and also meet people during his visit.

While expressing his happiness at good monsoon, even though delayed, which has gladdened the hearts of farmers, the chief minister said he was disturbed by the devastation caused by the heavy downpour leading to damages to houses and sowing operations in the coastal regions.

Speaking to media persons after paying homage to the statue of soldiers to mark the Kargil Divas in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the Chief minister expressed confidence that Karnataka will be able to record 100% sowing this year.

Siddaramaiah said the situation due to heavy rains in the coastal regions, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru was not so alarming and the officials have been doing their best to help the affected people.

But the rapid inflows in almost all the major reservoirs in the State, especially KRS, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathi and Almatti was heartening. This is good news for the farmers and also the government, he said.

The chief minister said the concerns over the non-availability of drinking water in several villages have vanished. The supply of drinking water through tankers has been stopped.
Answering questions from the media, he said there was nothing wrong in withdrawal of cases against innocent people implicated in the DJ Halli incident in Bengaluru and in Shivamogga and asked why the previous BJP government did not do it.
To another question, he said the reported letter by 11 Congress MLAs to him was ‘’fake’’ and said senior Congress MLA, who is mentioned as one of the signatories in the letter, has himself clarified that it was fake. However, some newspapers have published it to depict dissidence in the Congress party.