Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 11: A team of high level officials including top level officials from the centre would be visiting Karnataka on September 12 and 13, to assess damage caused by excessive rainfall in Kodagu, Malnad, and coastal Karnataka. The team will visit various districts.
A delegation from the state led by chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, had met Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday September 10 at New Delhi and impressed upon him to announce a package of Rs 2,000 crore for undertaking rehabilitation and disbursement of compensation in these areas. The Prime Minister, who responded to the request, promised the delegation to depute a central team forthwith for the purpose.
Delegation from the state meeting Prime Minister
The central government has put together a team led by joint secretary in the union home ministry, Anil Malik. The team is made up of six members and it is reaching the state on Tuesday. Three members of the team will visit Kodagu on September 12 and 13, while the other three will be visiting Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, and Udupi districts. They will visit flood-hit areas and view the damage inflicted by it. On September 14, the team will hold meeting with state ministers and chief secretary where information would be exchanged. Thereafter, the team will submit its report to the central government.
Criticizing BJP for not sending anyone to be a part of the state team which met the Prime Minister, state minister, H D Revanna, blamed the party for not responding to the invitation extended by the office of the chief minister.
The team told the Prime Minister about landslides and floods created by torrential rains in Kodagu, coastal Karnataka and Malnad region, as a result of which thousands of people were displaced, many people and cattle lost their lives, agriculture, plantations, basic infrastructure, houses etc suffered heavy damage and destruction. The state estimated the total loss to be about Rs 3,705.87 crore and sought announcement and immediate release of package amounting to Rs 2,000 crore. The team also gave full details about drought faced by 17 districts in the state. The chief minister promised to prepare a proposal at the meeting of the cabinet sub-committee and send the same to the central government.
"Out of 30 districts, four districts received rain in excess of normal level, ten districts got normal rainfall, while 16 districts faced shortage of rainfall. 104 taluks have experienced dry weather continuously and therefore are eligible to be considered as drought-hit," the team explained. As per the preliminary estimate, agriculture and horticultural activities suffered in over 15 lac hectares, and estimated loss is over Rs 8,000 crore.