Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that Rs 50 crore would be released before this week-end for flood relief works in the state.
Replying to a debate on the failure of flood relief works in the state, raised under Rule 69 by Opposition Congress, Kumaraswamy said this was in addition to Rs 50 crore already released. “At present, there is Rs 136 crore with deputy commissioners and there is no shortage of funds”, he added.
He said while the government has paid full compensation to the victims of floods, it is yet get full details of the damage caused to houses. Moreover, as rains were still pouring in many areas, the government is yet to yet details of the extent of damage caused to the infrastructure. “However, it has been estimated that crops in 25,000 acres have been affected”, he added.
Kumaraswamy refuted the allegations by Opposition leaders that the state has received a financial assistance of Rs 3,270 crore, including Rs 2,690 crore under the Vidharbha package, from the Union government.
“Under the Vidharbha package, the state has so far got only Rs 66 crore”, he added.
Though the government has sought an assistance of Rs 800 crore from the Centre under the package to take up irrigation related works, in view of water disputes, the Centre has put the proposals  on the back burner.
 Kumaraswamy refuted the allegation by the Opposition that the credit system of cooperative institutions has been seriously affected by the government’s decision to waive loans up to Rs 25,000. He said there was no truth in the statement that by the same period of last year (April to June end), the farmers had availed a loan of Rs 2,500 crore. “On the contrary the figures indicate that farmers have got a loan of Rs 1,097 crore so far this year as compared to Rs 909 crore during the same period of last year”, he added.
Not satisfied with the reply, the Congress members staged a walk out.