‘State spent only Rs. 184 crore for giving relief to flood-hit'

For use in the issue of May 08 Spokesman of Janata Dal(Secular) Y.S.V. Datta addressing a press conference in Hubli on Friday.

The State Government, which collected Rs. 1,602 crore from various organisations, industrialists and individuals for rehabilitation of flood-affected people, has spent only Rs. 184 crore for the purpose. It has only purchased 200 acres of land whereas the Revenue Minister had announced in the House that the Government had acquired 3,654 acres of land.

Releasing official statistics which he had received through various RTI applications, Janata Dal (Secular) spokesperson Y.S.V. Datta told presspersons here on Friday that the party wanted to know what happened to the money which the Government had collected from donors and organisations.

While the Government had spent Rs. 180 crore till December 7, 2009 for flood relief work, it had spent only Rs. 4 crore in the next three months till March 31, 2010. “This clearly shows how much commitment the Government has towards providing relief to flood-affected people,” he said.

The Union Government had released to the State an assistance of Rs. 1,698.88 crore for flood relief under the Calamity Relief Fund, the National Calamity Contingency Fund and for taking up drought relief works during 2008, 2009 and 2010. While the Government had spent Rs. 1,874 crore till December 7, 2009, it had spent Rs. 1,878 crore till March 31, 2010, Mr. Datta explained.

“On the floor of the House, Revenue Minister G. Karunakar Reddy had announced that 327 villages were being shifted and 3,654 acres land had been purchased for them. However, the reality is that only 200 acres of land has been purchased as per the statistics given to me under RTI,” Mr. Datta said.

He said the Government had only given false assurances to the displaced people who were now facing hardships living in temporary sheds after the floods forced them to leave their houses.

The Chief Minister always portrays himself as someone who has done a great deal for the development of North Karnataka while in reality he has no time to visit those living in the sheds and take steps to provide relief to them, Mr. Datta said.

Campaign

Mr. Datta said that to sensitise the people on the apathy of the BJP Government to people's problems, the party would launch an intensive campaign in North Karnataka starting from May 18.