67 killed as Karnataka receives 150% excess pre-monsoon rainfall, 19.32 lakh people at risk

'There's no shortage of funds to compensate for house damages. There's Rs 1,000 crore available under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF),' the CM said.

Bengaluru: Sixty-seven people have died in excessive pre-monsoon showers that Karnataka has received since April and an estimated 19.32 lakh people are at risk due to floods or landslides, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was told at a review meeting on Friday.

During pre-monsoon between March and May, Karnataka expected 108 mm rainfall. Up until May 29, the state saw 270 mm rainfall, which is 150 per cent above normal.

All 31 districts have received above-normal showers. "Rainfall in the month of May is the highest in 125 years," Siddaramaiah noted during a review meeting with all deputy commissioners and Zilla Panchayat chief executives.

A total of 2,252 villages have been impacted by floods or landslides. As many as 1,702 homes have suffered damages.

"There's no shortage of funds to compensate for house damages. There's Rs 1,000 crore available under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF)," Siddaramaiah said, directing DCs and CEOs to visit rain-hit places and oversee relief efforts.

"For homes that are completely damaged, the government will provide a compensation of Rs 1.25 lakh. Such families will get a new house built for them, for which DCs need to take the initiative," Siddaramaiah said.

The government has constituted task forces at the gram panchayat-level comprising various departments to face natural disasters. "If all of them work in tandem, precautionary measures can be taken," the CM said.

Lake encroachments

Siddaramaiah warned DCs of action if they are tardy in clearing lake encroachments.

Karnataka has 41,849 lakes that come under the minor irrigation department. Of them, 14,533 are under encroachment. Encroachment has been cleared in 6,808 lakes.

"Despite having directed in the previous meeting that all lakes must be surveyed to identify encroachments, the progress achieved is below expectation," Siddaramaiah said. "Clearing encroachments would result in easy flow of water," he said.

The CM lost his cool after finding that 11 districts recorded zero progress on encroachment removal. He directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to initiate action against the concerned DCs and CEOs.

Go to your district, CM tells DGR

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday directed Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao to rush to Dakshina Kannada. Rao is the minister in charge of the district where four people died due to heavy rainfall. Accordingly, Rao left Bengaluru and reached Mangaluru on Friday evening.