DAVANAGERE/HUBBALLI: A 10-member inter-ministerial central team visiting 17 drought-hit districts across Karnataka landed in controversy after they had a sumptuous Sunday lunch at a village in Davanagere district.When the team visited Niluvanchi village in Harapanahalli taluk on Sunday afternoon, the district administration had organised lunch at Moraji Desai Residential School at Nazeer Nagar. The menu included chicken and mutton chops, egg masala, roti and ragi balls.This drew sharp criticism from various quarters, with many likening the team to emperor Nero, and questioning the district administration’s ‘imprudent move’. “Groceries provided to students of the residential school were used,” they alleged. Many farmers, who had assembled at the spot, slammed the district administration for organizing the treat. “When we’re suffering, what’s the need to serve non-veg food to the team, that too on a school premises?” asked a farmer.Davanagere deputy commissioner Gautham Bagadi said only chicken dishes were served and denied they had used groceries of the school. “We brought food from a hotel, ” he claimed.Meeting todayOn Monday, the central team will meet officials of the state departments in Bengaluru before submitting a report to the Prime Minister’s Office.The central team, led by department of agriculture cooperation and farmers welfare joint secretary Amitabh Gautam arrived in the state on Friday after a delegation, led by the CM , met PM Narendra Modi on September 10 in New Delhi.

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