Karnataka - Mysore   

Dharam Singh surveys flood-hit areas in Mysore district

Staff Correspondent

Says Government will release Rs. 60-crore relief in stages

MEETING THE PUBLIC: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh receiving petitions from members of the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore at the Lalitha Mahal Palace Helipad in Mysore on Saturday. Minister of State for Labour and district in-charge Tanvir Sait is seen. — Photo: M.A. Sriram

MYSORE: Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh undertook an aerial survey of the rain-affected parts of Mysore district on Saturday to assess the damage caused to agricultural fields and properties. The district administration has estimated losses to the tune of Rs. 77 crores.

Accompanied by Minister of State for Labour and Haj and district in-charge Tanvir Sait, Minister for Tourism D.T. Jayakumar, G.T. Deve Gowda, MLA, and Deputy Commissioner S. Selvakumar, Mr. Dharam Singh assessed damage in K.R. Nagar, Periyapatna, Hunsur, and H.D. Kote taluks before visiting Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens was flooded on Sunday.

`No dearth of funds'

Speaking to presspersons, the Chief Minister said there is no dearth of funds and had released Rs. 5 crores as relief to the district.

He said, "We have seen water logged fields, breached tanks and collapsed houses in Mysore district. I have spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking assistance. The State Government will release Rs. 60 crores in stages to take up relief work in the district."

He said the State has suffered losses to the tune of Rs. 1,167 crores.

The State Government is hopeful of receiving adequate funds from the Union Government to take up relief.

Secretary-level officials have been deputed to the affected districts to coordinate relief work. The Chief Secretary is monitoring relief works, he added.

He criticised the officials of the district for not taking up relief measures. He directed the officials to inspect the affected areas and initiate relief measures immediately.

Mr. Dharam Singh also announced a grant of Rs. 2 crores for the upgradation of Mysore zoo. The zoo was inundated by floodwaters of the Karanji lake on Sunday and five animal enclosures had been marooned. Stating that other zoos will also be developed, the Chief Minister said he was aware that the Karnataka Zoo Authority had not received grants for the past five years.

Postponement

He said the State Government will not seek the postponement of elections to the zilla and taluk panchayats.

He said the Chief Secretary will apprise the Election Commission on the scenario in the affected districts and on the relief measures taken up. He said it is up to the Commission to decide if the elections have to be postponed.

However, Mr. Dharam Singh said the official machinery is ready to conduct the panchayat elections.

Protest

When the Chief Minister's helicopter landed in Mysore to pick up Mr. Sait, political leaders made desperate attempts to get into the helicopter. Despite the police throwing a security cordon around the helipad, a few managed to get past. While the Hunsur MLA, G.T. Deve Gowda, managed to get inside, K.R. Nagar MLA, Manchanahalli Mahadev, was not successful.

An incensed Mr. Mahadev later told presspersons that it was his constituency that had been worst-affected and he had been ignored.

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