Bengaluru, 21 September (H.S.): Former minister and Congress MLA H.K. Patil has warned his own government that he will resign from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly if Gadag taluk is not declared drought-affected by October 10.

Patil issued the ultimatum while addressing farmers who blocked the state highway near Mulgund town in Gadag district. The highway connects Gadag and Ilkal as well as the Karwar-Kaiga region. The farmers were protesting against the exclusion of Gadag taluk from the government's list of drought-affected areas.

Patil said a meeting of officials had earlier been convened under the leadership of the district in-charge minister and local legislators to assess the severity of the drought. Officials had presented a detailed report on crop damage and rainfall deficiency in the district.

He pointed out that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had inspected damaged crops between Kadampur and Kurtakoti. Despite the inspection and officials' reports, Gadag taluk had not been included in the drought-affected list.

According to Patil, Gadag taluk has recorded a rainfall deficit of 49 per cent, leaving farmers distressed and angry. He questioned who had prevented the taluk from being declared drought-hit and said such injustice could not be tolerated.

Describing himself as a representative of farmers who comes from an agricultural family, Patil promised to make every effort to secure the declaration within three days. If the demand was not accepted, he would give the government until October 10 before resigning as MLA.

Patil also demanded the immediate inclusion of 27 of the 73 taluks in North Karnataka that had been omitted from the drought list. He cautioned the government against politicising the issue.

In a three-page letter to the Chief Minister, Patil said the failure of the southwest monsoon and Super El Nino conditions had severely affected pulses, groundnut, cotton, onion and other crops. Gadag district had received only half its normal rainfall, resulting in an estimated 86 per cent crop loss, he said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman