The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Reddy gives all credit to his department for rehabilitation

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Wednesday, Nov 04, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Reddy gives all credit to his department for rehabilitation

Special Correspondent

Revenue Minister plays down role of RDPR and PWD in flood-hit areas

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Taking stock: Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy at a video-conference with deputy commissioners of flood-hit districts in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Bangalore: Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, who is spearheading the campaign for a leadership change in the Bharatiya Janata Party Government in the State, has played down the role of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) and Public Works departments in the shifting of villages and the rehabilitation work in flood-devastated north Karnataka districts.

Mr. Reddy, who reviewed the rehabilitation work in 12 districts by holding a video-conference with deputy commissioners on Tuesday, said that the shifting of villages and rehabilitation work was mainly done by the Revenue Department. “There is no confusion about rehabilitation. My priorities are clear,” he said. He directed the deputy commissioners of Raichur, Bidar, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Bellary, Koppal, Dharwad, Bagalkot, Gadag, Haveri, Uttar Kannada and Chitradurga districts to purchase land in 10 days for shifting of villages. A total of 270 villages, including 130 partially, would be shifted from river basins to safer places, he said.

Mr. Reddy has been critical of the style of functioning of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Shobha Karandlaje, while PWD Minister C.M. Udasi has been opposing a change in the leadership.

Data collected

Several donors, including software firms and miners, have come forwarded for construction of houses. Mr. Reddy said the Revenue Department had gathered information about crop loss, and damages to houses, buildings and bridges. Almost all deputy commissioners have sought additional funds for taking up rehabilitation work and land purchase for construction of houses.

Funds sought

Bagalkot district has sought Rs. 49 crore, Raichur - Rs. 50 crore, Gadag - Rs. 12 crore, Gulbarga - Rs. 75 crore, Dharwad - Rs. 30 crore, Davanagere - Rs. 58 crore, Haveri - Rs. 50 crore, Bidar - Rs. 18 crore, and Koppal - Rs. 65 crore, for repairing roads, bridges and rehabilitation work, Mr. Reddy said.

Several MLAs of the rebel group, led by the Reddy brothers, have been spending their time in lavish five-star resorts in Hyderabad and Goa. Asked about party legislators remaining absent from their constituencies for the last several days, Mr. Reddy said officials had been supervising all work in rain-hit areas.

Mr. Reddy was also unaware of a meeting convened by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa for preparing a proposal on providing basic infrastructure in flood-hit districts on Tuesday evening at the State secretariat.

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