Inter-state fodder transport banned

MYSORE: In the wake of the prevailing drought situation in the state, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has banned the transportation of fodder to neighbouring states.Presiding over a meeting to review drought relief works here on Saturday, he directed the police to strengthen check posts in this regard.“The government has released Rs 49 crore - including Rs 30 lakh to all taluks each to dig borewells - to tackle the water scarcity through a task force set up in the  taluk levels,” he said.Gowda added that the task force must meet mandatorily every month to monitor the situation and ensure that taluk level officers visit panchayats, while warning of action against those officers not responding to public complaints.He also directed that the outbreak of epidemic diseases such as H1N1, of which cases tested positive in Bangalore and Mysore, be handled expediently.Hunsur MLA H P Manjunath and H D Kote MLA Chikkanna, who were also present, appealed to the CM to consider their constituencies as drought-hit and sanction funds for relief works.  They added that the district needs 30,922 bags of seeds and manure for sowing during kharif season. JUSCO Criticised Meanwhile, expressing unhappiness at the handling of water supply in Mysore by JUSCO, the CM said that the task force will be entrusted with water supply in Mysore in two months.The government has sought a probe report on failure to execute drinking water schemes to 56 villages in Dodda Kavalande hobli in Nanjangud taluk.