Dharwad: Members of the district BJP have demanded the state government to waive off the crop loans of the farmers in view of the severity of the drought situation in the State.

In a memorandum submitted to the district administration after holding protest here, the protestors said the number of farmers committing suicide had increased in the district as they were not able to repay the loans taken from the co-operative societies and nationalised banks.

“The chief minister and other ministers instead of touring the state and helping drought-hit farmers, are merely blaming the Centre for everything. The Centre has sanctioned Rs. 1,782 Crore for drought relief works and released Rs. 450 Crore in the first instalment. However, the state government has not spent that amount even after one month, and now it is saying that only Rs. 200 Crore would be distributed among the farmers,” the protesters said.

“More than 1,500 farmers have committed suicide in the state in one year but the state government is not showing any concern towards the condition of drought-hit farmers,” they charged. In addition to farmers’ loan waiver, supplying drinking water through tankers, proper implementation of drought relief works under the supervision of district in-charge ministers, fodder supply, opening goshalas, were the other demands of the protesters.