Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has a daunting task of compensating the victims and setting right the infrastructure in the district, which was ravaged by rain and flood this monsoon.
Rain played havoc in the district this monsoon and agriculture community was the worst hit. In Shikaripur taluk alone, the constituency which CM represents, evidenced six suicides of farmers in span of two months this monsoon.
Parameshwarappa, a resident of Shikaripur, Lakshmana Naik and his wife Gangi Bai of Chunchinakoppa, Ravi Naika of Balur committed suicide in August while Chowdappa of Bannur village and Sureshappa of Basavananandihalli ended their life in September.
Interestingly all the deceased had grown maize which was destroyed by rain and had borrowed loans from cooperative banks. Compensation is yet to reach the families of victims.
According to the report of district administration, eight persons have died in rain related incidents in the district this monsoon. But officials have refused to treat the incident of death of two youths by slipping into river Varada at Bankasana in Sorab taluk as rain related casualty.
District has suffered Rs 46.76 crore crop loss, Rs 3.35 crore loss of horticulture crops, Rs 16 crore loss due to fungal infection in areca,
Rs 1.87 crore loss due to house collapse and Rs 150.46 crore infrastructure damage. Standing crop in 91,152 acre and 2,562 acre horticulture crop, and 6,250 houses were damaged in rain
havoc.
Administration has failed to take initiative for repairing roads and bridges in the district. National Highway-13 and NH-206 which pass through the district are filled with potholes. Bridge constructed across river Bhadra, adjacent to KSRTC bus stand in Bhadravati, Gowrihalla bridge in Shikaripur and the one across river Sharavati in Nagara of Hosanagar taluk are damaged by flood. Unable to sustain the heavy traffic flow, the bridges may crumble at any time.
A team of Central Government visited rain affected regions in the district on September 5. The team was expected to submit report to the Central Government by September 20.
October was right time to undertake relief works as rain receded but administrative apparatus came to standstill due to controversy related to transfer of power.
Compensating the farmers who have suffered loss and securing additional financial assistance from Central Government for repairing the infrastructure damage are the challenges before the new Chief Minister.