‘Utilise Rs 546 cr for Kodagu relief’

Kodagu district unit BJP president B B Bharathish said that the state government should utilise the Centre sanctioned Rs 546 crore as additional assistance to Karnataka, to take up relief works in the flood-hit Kodagu district.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he accused the state government of failing to respond to the woes of the flood victims even after four months.

“The government had made a lot of assurances in the beginning. However, now they are engaged in delaying relief works and are not showing interest in rehabilitation activities,” he added.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and District In-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh visit the district for namesake, just to console the victims. However, they are engaged in confusing the victims when it comes to compensation, said Bharathish.

He further said, “Donors have donated immensely towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The government has failed to issue a white paper on the amount received under the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The district administration has failed to hold talks with the donors who had come forward to construct houses and schools in Kodagu district.”

“The promise of constituting Kodagu Reconstruction Authority has not been fulfilled so far. When the state government points fingers at the Centre for everything, then what is the role of the state government?” he asked.

Along with the construction of roads, bridges and solving the water crisis, the government should also mull over compensation for those who lost their farmland. The victims have been running to all the departments seeking alternative land, he said.

He said that the district administration is delaying the process of identifying government land for rehabilitation of the victims. The victims are still residing in relief camps.

“If the authorities fail to find a solution to problems faced by the flood victims within 15 days, a Janandolana will be organised across the district,” he warned.