None of them, barring one kept their word. Many donors benefited from their involvement.
The Reddys of Bellary who were busy trying to topple the Yeddyurappa government at the time of the devastation, took time off from their political battle to declare grandiosely that they would construct 50,000 houses by spending Rs 500 crore. They even conducted functions to lay foundation for the construction of the houses in Bellary, Gadag and Deodurga where the Chief Minister was not welcome.
Reality check
A reality check showed that the mining tycoons’ boast is precisely that.
The government website (karunadu.gov.in) states that Obulapuram Mining Company, owned by the Reddys has promised to construct 6,800 houses in Siruguppa and Hadagali taluks of Bellary.
Official records showed that the company is yet to enter into an agreement with the government for constructing even a single house in these two taluks.
The progress of construction of houses in all the 14 affected districts of North Karnataka is below one per cent. As many as 53 donors gave commitment to build more than 73,000 houses.
Of them, only one, the Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram constructed 242 houses have been constructed in Dongarampura in Raichur district.
Hutti Gold Mines declared it would build 1,014 houses in six villages of Raichur district. Work is yet to begin in all the six villages.
Bharti Airtel assured 150 houses in Raghunathahalli and PES institute of Bangalore committed to build 70 houses in Godihal. Neither of them has begun work.
The delay is attributed to people’s reluctance to part with land, non-availability of contractors, district administration’s long procedures to supply water and power to construction sites. No matter whoever is responsible for delay, the flood victims are the sufferers.
