Karwar: Steps would be taken to start operating generic drug stores at district hospital, taluk hospital, community health centres as soon as the district administration received permission for the same, said Zilla Panchayat President Jayashri Moger.

Chairing a monthly Karnataka Development Programme review meeting in Karwar on Wednesday she said that these shops will sell essential medicines at 75 per cent lesser price from the market value.

Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr Ashok Kumar said that these shops will function at all government hospitals with the help of NGOs.

Power to Anganwadi

Jayashri said that proposal has been sent to State government to electrify all the 1,571 anganwadi centres in the district. Each centre will have fan, CFL bulbs and other amenities, she said.

Proposal has also been sent to construct compound around these centres. Work of constructing compound will be taken up under MGNREGA.

The district has received permission for 26 new anganwadi centres, of which 8 have already been completed. By December end all the centres will be completed.

Declared drought-hit

The State government has already declared Haliyal and Siddapur taluks as drought affected. Sirsi, Yellapur and Mundgod taluk have also received less rainfall, even these taluks should be declared as drought affected.

A proposal regarding this will be sent to State government soon, said Agriculture Department Joint Director Honnappagouda.

A survey was conducted to estimate total crop loss in the district. According to the survey, crops on more than nearly 25,500 hectare of land have been lost due to scarcity of water. The State government has been informed about this. He said that farmers can be protected if an input subsidy is released at the earliest.

Due to heavy rains that lashed Ankola taluk recently, more than 50 hectare of land has sustained crop loss, he said.