The Hindu : Karnataka News : Rs. 140 crore for seven flood-affected districts

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Saturday, Aug 16, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Rs. 140 crore for seven flood-affected districts

Staff Correspondent

18 people dead, 102 villages affected, says Minister

24-hour helpline set up in Bangalore to deal with flood situation
‘Upper Bhadra Project will be completed in
five years’

G. Karunakar Reddy

Chitradurga: Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy has said the Government has released Rs. 140 crore to seven flood-affected districts in the State so that relief and rehabilitation initiatives can be undertaken.

Addressing presspersons here on Friday, he said seven districts, including Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Chikmagalur and Udupi, had suffered severe damage on account of heavy rain.

Mr. Reddy said 102 villages had been affected and 18 people had died in rain-related incidents. Over 1,700 houses were damaged in floods. The Government had opened up 53 relief centres and shifted 6,000 people to safe areas, he added.

The Government was monitoring the situation, he said and added that a 24-hour helpline had been set up in Bangalore for the purpose. The police and paramilitary forces were also keeping a strict watch over the situation so as to meet any emergency.

Refuting allegations by Opposition parties that the Government was not serious about providing relief to flood-affected people, Mr. Reddy said the Government had taken precautions to tackle the situation.He said the Government had not yet made any assessment of the damage, as it was focussing on safeguarding the people’s lives. To a question, he said the Government would urge the Centre to release funds to deal with the natural calamity.

He admitted that while many parts of the State were suffering from floods, a few parts such as Chitradurga and Bellary had not received adequate rain, affecting agriculture.

The Minister declined to declare any district as drought-hit, but however said the Deputy Commissioners of the respective districts had been asked to prepare detailed reports of crop loss. “Based on the reports, the Government will release relief funds”, he said.

Regarding the Upper Bhadra Project, he said the Government was committed to completing the project. “The Government has no shortage of funds and will finish the project within five years”, he said.

Earlier, he participated in the Independence Day celebrations and unfurled the National Flag. In his address to the gathering at the Vonake Vobbavva Stadium, he recalled the contribution of freedom fighters who had laid down their lives to ensure the country’s independence.

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