A PIL has been filed in the Karnataka High Court asking for the issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the state government to drop a proposed foreign trip of legislators in the wake of severe drought in the state.
In the plea filed yesterday, petitioner H S Neelakantappa, a native of Tarikere taluk in Chikmagalur district, said over 174 taluks in Karnataka were facing severe drought due to less rain. “In such a situation instead of giving importance to handle the drought situation and helping the farmers and the public, the legislators are planning a trip to foreign countries, which is very inappropriate,” he stated.
The government plans to send as many as 250 legislators on foreign trip at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore, “which is not only seems inappropriate but will also cause a huge loss to the state exchequer,” the petitioner said.
The same amount could be utilised for helping the needy, he said.