SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): Sir, I rise to reflect the apprehensions in the minds of five and a half crore people of Karnataka. Recently a delegation from Maharashtra led by the hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra met the hon. Prime Minister and raked up the old border issue. … (Interruptions)

Now, with great dismay I would like to bring it to the notice of the Government that hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Shri Shivraj Patil also went along with the delegation to propound the case of Maharashtra. I feel that the hon. Prime Minister, the hon. Minister of Water Resources, the hon. Minister of Home

MR. CHAIRMAN: Now, we will take Item No. 18, further discussion regarding widespread distress among the farmers in the country, raised by Shri Mohan Singh on the 17th August, 2006.

There are more than 45 hon. Members to participate in this discussion. Therefore, I would request all the hon. Members to be brief, and those who want to lay their speeches are requested to lay them on the Table of the House.

MR. SPEAKER: Hon. Members, I have got several notices — some of them beyond time — relating to situation of flood or matters connected therewith. I will give everybody a chance. But my earnest appeal is that, please do not go on saying: “Sir”, “Sir” because I will call all of you, although some hon. Members have not given notices in time. They have not taken the trouble of giving the notices in time. Even then I will call them because this subject relates to common citizens of the country who are suffering. Please cooperate.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House will now take up item no. 20 – Central Silk Board (Amendment) Bill, 2006.

THE MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SHRI SHANKARSINH VAGHELA): Sir, I beg to move:

“That the Bill further to amend the Central Silk Board Act, 1948, as passed by Rajya Sabha, be taken into consideration.”

MR. SPEAKER: Now. Mr. Ananth Kumar to speak and only his statement would be recorded and nothing else.

(Interruptions)* …

SHRI ANANTH KUMAR (BANGALORE SOUTH): Sir, I want to raise a very important issue of ITI Limited. Around 14,000 employees including officers of ITI Limited which are in Bangalore, Naini, Allahabad, Raebareli, Palakkad, Mankapur and Srinagar, are yet to receive their salaries for the month of May. They

SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI : On one side, 127 talukas are suffering with drought and on the other, more than six districts are suffering due to floods. More than 100 people are already dead, and 25 bridges have been submerged. Even where there was no rain, there is a flood situation because water from Koyna Dam was released. The same situation was there last year also, and it was demanded that all the 101 nearby villages which are affected every year because of releasing of water from Koyna Dam should be shifted permanently. In this regard, the then Dharam Singh Government urged the Government of India to provide Rs. 300 crore to shift those villages permanently, but that is pending for the last one year before the Government of India. I urge the Government of India to look into the matter very seriously.