Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy sought a financial assistance of Rs 1,199 crore from the Centre for relief work in the flood-hit districts of the state.
A high-level delegation led by Kumaraswamy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and apprised him of the prevailing situation in the state. The delegation included Kumaraswamy's father and former prime minister H.D. Devegowda, brother H.D. Revanna and his cabinet colleagues Dr G Parameshwara, R.V. Deshpande, Krishna Byregowda and DK Shivakumar.
According to preliminary assessment, seven districts in the coastal and mainland region were hit by floods, while as many as 15 districts in interior Karnataka had a drought situation.
Incidentally, the state BJP leaders who were invited to the meeting chose to stay away, after the Congress and the JD(S) decided to spearhead the 'Bharat Bandh' protest against the fuel price hike in the state.
While the total loss is estimated at Rs 3,705 crore, the state has sought a relief of Rs 1,199 crore. The south west monsoon has played havoc and the rainfall recorded in August second week is the highest in the last 118 years. The floods and landslides have caused enormous loss and damage to life, property, crops and infrastructure, noted the memorandum.
The losses estimated as per the State Disaster Relief Fund norms are crop loss of Rs 1,016 crore, damage to infrastructure (state highways, rural and urban roads) worth Rs 1452 crore, damage to bridges and minor irrigation tanks, government buildings, water supply and sanitation at Rs 342 crore, damage to plantation crops (2.26 lakh hectares) of Rs 654 crore among others.
