Sadananda Gowda to lead all party delegation to Centre

Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Saturday said he planned to lead an all party delegation to the Centre by this month end to seek Rs2,200 crore financial assistance to tackle severe drought conditions in the state.

Gowda, who began his tour of drought hit areas from this district, said he had convened a meeting of opposition leaders on April 12 to seek their suggestions but had to postpone it following request from the leaders.

The all party meeting is expected by third week of this month and he would lead a delegation to New Delhi in the last week, the Chief Minister said.

Gowda also held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioner and elected representatives of the district at which the drought situation and relief measures initiated were discussed.

He said the three ministerial teams, constituted to visit drought prone areas and review relief works, would begin its visits soon and submit a report to him.

Gowda said he would also visit Singapore, Japan and Thailand by month end to lure investors ahead of the Global Investors Meets planned in June.

"My foreign trip is to attract investments and it is not a pleasure trip", Gowda said.