“Union Government should relax the guidelines and norms for compensating the victims who have incurred loss due to rain havoc. Instead of going on the technicalities, officials should consider the issue on humanitarian grounds,” said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Speaking to media representatives in the city on Saturday he said that the loss incurred should be scientifically assessed. Also many parts of the State are perennially hit due to rain and floods for which permanent solution should be chalked out, he stated.
CM demanded the Prime Minister and Home Minister to visit the rain affected regions in the State to assess the loss. Expressing disappointment at step mother attitude of Union Government towards the State, he said that “earlier also we have bitter experiences with regard to availing compensation from Union Government during crises. Considering the seriousness of the situation, this time Union Government should act responsibly,” he said.
State has incurred Rs 4,000 crore loss due to rain havoc which includes Rs 1,000 crore infrastructure damage and Rs 3,000 crore crop loss. State will urge the Union Government to provide Rs 4,000 crore for undertaking relief works of which Rs 500 crore should be released as immediate compensation in the first phase, he demanded.
CM clarified that there is no paucity of fund for undertaking relief works as Rs 50 crore is provided for district administrations. Another Rs 136 crore will be released at the earliest, he said. Regarding Congress leader Dharam Singh’s claim that disgruntled Legislators from JD(S) and BJP are planning to join Congress, he said that “instead of commenting about disappointment in other parties, Dharam Singh should set his own party right.”
CM chaired the review meeting of officials in the city regarding the rain havoc. CM along with Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Minister for Water Resource K S Eshwarappa left the city for aerial survey of rain affected regions in Shimoga, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Haveri and Davangere districts.
