Karnataka - Bellary   

Floods render several families homeless in Bellary district

BELLARY: The floods in the Tungabhadra, though not that severe compared

to those that had hit the district in 1992, have left the people on the river bank in dire straits. Several families have been rendered homeless, apart from heavy crop loss.

However, there have been no reports of loss of life from any of these flood-hit areas.

About 150 families in Madalgatti village, a well-known pilgrim centre in Hadagali taluk, and fort area in Kampli town, have been rendered homeless following inundation of their homes.

People of Madalagatti village have been camping on the Mundargi-Madalgatta bridge, which is close by, while the people of fort area have shifted either to their relatives’ houses or to government schools.

Rajanna, a small farmer, had obtained loans of Rs. 70,000 and had raised banana plantations two acres of land at Hire Bannimatti village, in Hadagali taluk. As a result of flooding, he lost his crop, which was almost ready for harvest. He is among several farmers on the river bank to sustain huge crop loss, caused by the floods.

According to a preliminary estimate, crops sown on about 10,300 hectares of land, have been damaged, besides rendering several people homeless in most villages on the river bank..

A large number of pumpsets and pipelines used for lift irrigation, and fishing netshave been washed away.

According to a survey conducted by officials, 51 villages on the river bank (26 in Hadagali, 15 in Hospet and 10 in Sirguppa taluks) have been affected by floods, while the loss has been estimated at around Rs. 3.24 crore.

A generator, worth Rs. 1.37 crore, being used at the Singatalur Lift Irrigation Project near Hadagali, has been submerged. In Hadagali taluk, crop loss has been estimated at Rs. 1.5 crore, and in Hospet taluk at around Rs. 70 lakh.

Home Minister M.P. Prakash, who toured the affected places in Hadagali taluk, assured the people that steps would be taken to release compensation immediately.

The water level in the Tungabhadra has been receding gradually due to decreased inflow.

Dam sources said that the inflow on Saturday was about 2.35 lakh cusecs while out flow was estimated at 2.26 lakh cusecs.

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