Repeating the assurances made by previous governments after the floods in 2005 and 2006 in the district, district in-charge Minister Satish L. Jarkiholi on Monday promised to draw up a plan to rehabilitate the residents of 39 flood-prone villages along the banks of the Krishna river in Chikkodi, Athani and Raibag taluks.
Talking to presspersons at Kudachi in Raibag taluk, Mr. Jarkiholi said the proposals on permanent rehabilitation had remained in cold storage. He would convene a meeting of legislators soon after the legislature session to prepare a proper rehabilitation plan.
The Minister, who visited some of the flood-affected areas during the day, handed over compensation of Rs. 1.50 lakh each to the families of Ningavva Ningappa Balobal and Lakshmi Ramakrishna Dhangar who were killed in a house collapse at Katakbhavi village in Raibag taluk.
The Krishna river and its tributaries flowing through the northern parts of the district are in spate. While there was some respite with a reduction in rainfall in the catchment areas in Maharashtra, more than 500 residents of Kallol and Agali have returned to their homes from the temporary relief centres.
According to official sources here on Monday, 424 residents of Kallol in Chikkodi taluk and 159 from Aigali in Athani taluk were shifted to relief centres the river began to rise last week.
Tungabhadra rises
The Tungabhadra river is swollen following continued heavy discharge from the Tungabhadra dam at Hospet in Bellary district.
The bridge across the Tungabhadra has been submerged, and the link between Kampli in Bellary district and Gangavati in Koppal district and other parts of the Hyderabad Karnatak region has been cut off since Sunday evening.
On Monday, the inflow into the reservoir was at the rate of 1.32 lakh cusecs while the discharge was at the rate of 1.49 lakh cusecs. Ancient monuments and temples, including the Kodanda Rama temple and the Koti Linga, along the banks of river in Hampi continued to be flooded.
The authorities have cautioned people living in villages on either side of the river to move to safer places
KRS outflow down
The historic Paschima Vahini near Srirangapatna in and a few other places in Mandya district were inundated by the swollen Cauvery.
The Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir near Srirangapatna is full and Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. has been discharging a huge volume of water.
While the outflow rate was 15,000 cusecs on July 22 when the crest gates were opened for the first time this year, it was 62,544 cusecs on Sunday evening.
Apart from the Paschima Vahini, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, the bathing ghats near the Nimishambha temple at Sangam and a few other places were inundated between Sunday evening and Monday morning because of swollen Cauvery river, sources at the district administration told The Hindu here on Monday.
However, flood level slightly reduced on Monday evening. Also, the flood water has reached Sai Baba temple on the banks of Cauvery river, sources added.
Water-level
Meanwhile, the water-level at the KRS touched 123.45 ft against the full-reservoir level (FRL) of 124.80 ft at 6.30 p.m. on Monday. However, the inflow rate has decreased to 50,956 cusecs from 61,183 cusecs on Sunday evening. CNNL officials decreased the outflow to 33,393 cusecs on Monday evening.
