Natural calamities: ‘Will try to get relief raised’

He says low compensation is given owing to guidelines issued by Union government

R.V. Deshpande, Revenue Minister, said on Thursday that the compensation given by the State government for partially damaged houses during natural calamities was less and he would try to get it increased by talking to the Chief Minister.

He visited some areas affected by the recent heavy rains at Udyavar village near here. He also distributed a total relief of ₹10.75 lakh to 17 persons whose houses were either fully or partially damaged at the office of the Udyavar Gram Panchayat.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Deshpande said that the low compensation given to the persons affected during natural calamities was because of the guidelines which had been issued by the Centre.

A compensation of ₹4 lakh was being given to the kin of the persons who had died during the heavy rainfall. But Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy had said that an amount of ₹1 lakh would also be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Hence, the total compensation given to the kin of the deceased was ₹5 lakh.

There was heavy rain in almost all the districts in the State, barring Bengaluru Urban, which had got normal rainfall.

The officers of his department were doing a survey of the loss of life and damages to properties due to the heavy rainfall.

The State government had already released funds for tackling natural calamities to Udupi district. There was no shortage of funds, Mr. Deshpande said.

U.T. Khader, Urban Development and Housing Minister, and Lalaji Mendon, Kaup MLA too were with Mr. Deshpande during his visit.