Floods; Govt. is with the people at this hour of crisis: CM Bommai

Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)

The government is with the people at this hour of crisis when many parts of the state are reeling under floods.

The District in-charge ministers have involved themselves in relief works taking everyone into confidence,Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to media persons at Mysuru airport, Bommai said, the District in-charge ministers are involved in relief works by taking everyone into confidence.

Minister S Angara in Udupi,Sunil Kumar in Mangaluru,Kota Srinivas Poojary in Uttaraka Kannada and ST Somashekar in Mysuru have already visited the flood hit areas to take stock of the situation.

Revenue minister R Ashok has just returned from his visit to Kodagu.The entire government is engaged in it.

I too am visiting the affected areas today and will issue necessary instructions for rescue and relief works,Bommai said.

Efforts are on to convince the people residing in seismic sensitive zones and in areas which are prone to landslides to shift to safer places.

Precautionary measures are being taken seismically sensitive zones,Bommai said.

Preliminary survey

Road connectivity is snapped in many places due to incessant rains,landslides and mild tremors have occured in a few places in Kodagu,sea erosion has affected the people in coastal region, houses along the river banks have been damaged in many parts of Northern Karnataka.

In some places crops have been damaged due to high discharge from the reservoirs.Survey has been conducted on the damages.Exact details would be shared soon,Bommai said.

Rs730 cr available in NDRF

Replying to a question on availability of funds for relief works, Bommai said, Rs.730 cr is available with the NDRF.

There is no shortage of funds. Central assistance would be sought,if needed,after estimating the losses.

Rehabilitation of villages along river beds

Reacting to recurring floods in many villages, Bommai said, 63 flood prone villages along the river banks have been relocated.

But the people are reluctant to relocate in some villages.Expert opinion has been sought on safe relocation of such villages.Special project would be formulated in this regard.

Boards & Corpns: Opportunity for new faces

It has been decided at the Core Committee meeting to replace heads of various Boards and Corporations who are serving in their posts for over one and a half years to give an opportunity for others,Bommai said.