BELGAUM: The Union Government is likely to announce a package for the flood-affected villages, the Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh said re-assuring adequate compensation and rehabilitation of the affected families.

Mr. Dharam Singh, who was here on Tuesday to review steps taken by the district administration to provide relief and compensation to the affected families, said the Union Government was sympathetic with the affected families and will announce a package for the State soon. He was confident of the Centre favourably considering the State's request for Rs. 3,640 crores.

Replying to questions raised by elected representatives, he said the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was abroad and would announce the package soon after his return to the country.

`In a week'

He had spoken to the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar who had also promised to announce adequate relief. It may take a week for the Centre to announce the package, he added.

But the State had disbursed Rs. 400 crores, including Rs. 139 crores for Belgaum district, as an immediate measure towards rescue and relief operations.

The Chief Minister asked the district officials handling the post-flood situation to build confidence among the affected families that the Government was with them and would provide succour to them.

If the administration needs more money, the Government will provide it. But first provide immediate relief to the affected families, he appealed.

He advised them to be liberal in the disbursement of compensation in view of the magnitude of the losses the families and farmers have suffered.

"You have an opportunity to serve the distressed as they need your help now," he said.

On the suggestions made by the elected representatives, he said they would be placed before the Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Thursday. Meanwhile, he will visit New Delhi and request the Union Government to release the money at the earliest.

Earlier, Lok Sabha members, Suresh C. Angadi and Ramesh Jigjinagi, legislators, Veerkumar Patil, Shashikant Nayak, Laxman Saudi and Bhalchandra Jarkiholi, said the compensation being given to families whose houses were either fully or partially damaged was inadequate. They also wanted the Government to waive crop loans, including those raised from national and commercial banks.

Mr. Patil said the Maharashtra Government had announced Rs. 25,000 per hectare for loss of sugarcane crop and insisted that the State Government pay the same amount to the affected sugarcane growers here.

Minister for Agriculture Marketing and district incharge, Prakash B. Hukkeri, urged the Chief Minister to provide compensation in respect of house collapse as per the assessment done by the engineers as the amount of Rs. 800 to Rs. 2,000 announced now was meagre.

Video presentation

Deputy Commissioner Shalini Rajneesh made a video presentation on the devastation caused by the floods and also the relief measures taken up by the district administration. Revenue Secretary S.M. Jamdar spoke. Development Commissioner for North Karnataka V. Umesh was present.

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