Money in relief fund will not be diverted: Kumaraswamy

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara laid the foundation stone for the construction of model houses meant for victims of the Kodagu natural calamity at Jambur in Somwarpet taluk on Friday.

Two BHK houses, each at a cost of Rs 9.85 lakh, will be built for the victims.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy said that an amount of Rs 202 crore has been contributed to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund by donors towards the assistance to Kodagu natural calamity victims. The Central government has provided an assistance of Rs 546 crore which needs to be distributed among the eight districts of the state towards the relief measures, as per the Centre’s directions.

“The money in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund will not be diverted to any other purpose and will only be used for the welfare and rehabilitation of the victims,” he added.

He clarified that the relief materials meant for the victims were not misused
and were preserved in warehouses.

Kumaraswamy, meanwhile, called upon the people not to politicise the issue of flood victims and said that everyone should join hands towards the relief measures.

‘Loan waiver’

A final decision will soon be taken on providing compensation to the growers who have lost their lands. Up to Rs 2 lakh of loans availed by the growers from nationalised banks and Rs 1 lakh from cooperative banks will be waived, the chief minister said.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said an authority has been formed for the reconstruction of Kodagu.

“It is unfortunate that Kodagu suffered a huge natural calamity. However, the government will carry out all efforts to provide rehabilitation to the needy, along with providing the basic amenities,” he added.

The deputy chief minister expressed his discontentment on the grants provided by the Central government.

“The state government had submitted a request to the Centre to provide Rs 2,000 crore towards relief measures,” he said.

Parameshwara, further, said that the delegation led by Chief Minister Kumaraswamy had met the prime minister twice and had requested the Central government to release more funds.

“There has been no response by the Centre so far,” said Parameshwara.

Currently, the money is released under the National Disaster Relief Fund. Compared to the funds granted to Kerala, funds granted to Karnataka are meagre. The state government is utilising its own funds for relief works. The accurate amount utilised towards the relief works will be made public soon, he added.

Cheques towards the monthly rent allowance and the title deeds of houses were handed over to the victims on the occasion.