Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Saturday said the State Government had pressed into service a large part of its machinery to execute rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas on a war-footing and that Governor H.R. Bhardwaj had been promised that corruption in execution of projects, if any, would be dealt with sternly.
Mr. Yeddyurappa was accompanied by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs S. Suresh Kumar, Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath, and I.S.N. Prasad, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister. During the brief meeting, the Chief Minister also drove home the point that the suggestions of the Governor would be taken into account.
The meeting between the Chief Minister and the Governor took place in the backdrop of the latter referring to the “shoddy” implementation of rehabilitation work in the flood-affected areas.
The Governor also expressed his disappointment over the delay in payment of compensation to the victims and said that while the Centre had come forward with assistance of Rs. 1,000 crore for flood relief, the State Government lagged behind in expediting the work.
Sources close to the Chief Minister told The Hindu that the Governor was apprised, in detail, of all the works that had been undertaken so far and the future programmes of the government relating to shifting of low-lying villages and construction of nearly three lakh houses for the victims. A reference was also made to the funds received from the Union Government and the amount spent by the State Government so far. “On the face of it, the Governor appeared convinced with the steps taken,” they added.
