The Karnataka government on Monday asked the Union Government for Rs. 16,500 crore for relief and rehabilitation measures in the flood-hit districts in north Karnataka.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram who, along with Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, conducted an aerial survey of the devastated areas in Bellary, Bijapur and Raichur districts.
Ms. Gandhi, who arrived at the Jindal airport at Toranagal after a tour of the flood-affected regions, later left for Maharashtra.
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Mr. Chidambaram, who received the memorandum, invited the Chief Minister for a meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the funds required for relief operations. The State government has urged the Centre to send a team as early as possible to assess the damage.
According to a preliminary estimate of the losses, the State has asked for Rs. 5,000 crore to repair roads, bridges and culverts; Rs. 1,000 crore to build houses; Rs. 2,500 crore for crop loss compensation; Rs. 1,500 crore to provide immediate relief to the affected people; Rs. 500 crore to repair electrical installations; Rs. 1,500 crore to restore village infrastructure, school buildings and community utilities; Rs, 1,000 crore for construction of embankments; and Rs. 3,500 crore to repair tanks and irrigation canals.
Home Minister V.S. Acharya, Transport Minister R. Ashok and Law Minister S. Suresh Kumar told presspersons that rain and floods had claimed the lives of 194 people and rendered over 3.55 lakh people homeless.
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All the homeless people had been provided accommodation in 1,211 relief camps in various districts. One lakh houses had been totally damaged and 4,595 head of cattle had perished. About two lakh houses would be relocated from low-lying areas, they said.
‘Padayatras’
All district in-charge ministers have been directed to undertake ‘padayatras’ in the southern districts of the State to raise funds.