58 dead, 80,000 hectares crop damage in K'taka so far: Min. Krishna Byre Gowda
Above normal monsoon rains
Bengaluru, Aug 12: Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Monday said that the state has recorded 58 deaths and crop damage in 80,000 hectares, due to "above normal" rains so far in the current monsoon season so far.
More rains are anticipated in several parts of the state in the days ahead, and officials have been instructed to take precautionary measures, he said.
"In the northern interior region, the average rainfall has been 260 mm, but this year it has received 322 mm, which is 24 per cent higher than normal. The Malnad region typically receives 1,127 mm of rainfall, but this year it has received 1,361 mm, 21 per cent higher than normal.
The coastal region typically receives 2,299 mm of rainfall, but this year it has received 2,947 mm, which is 28 per cent higher. The state has received an average of 553 mm of rainfall (normally), but this year it has received 699 mm, which is 26 per cent higher. Notably, no district has received less rainfall than normal this year," Gowda said.
ALSO READ: 8 TMC water released from Tungabhadra Dam; BJP leaders to inspect dam
Speaking to reporters here, he said that last month there was a rainfall deficit in the dryland regions and districts like Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Yadgir, Koppal, Vijayapura and Raichur had received less rainfall than usual. However, good rainfall has been recorded in these areas over the last 10 days.
"Moreover, the monsoon is expected to intensify again from August 16. All districts are reporting good monsoon (sowing) activity. This year, the rainfall is expected to be above average, and we anticipate a good agricultural season," he added.
Noting that the monsoon will continue for another one-and-a-half months, and more rain is expected in the coming days, especially in the regions from Bengaluru to Central Karnataka and the Malnad area, the minister said heavy rainfall is likely along the Karnataka-Maharashtra border and the Krishna and Cauvery river basins.
"Therefore, precautionary measures have been instructed to the district collectors to prevent unnecessary flood situations," he said.
During heavy rains, rivers tend to overflow, and if water is released from dams simultaneously, it could lead to flooding, causing distress to people, he said. Instructions have been given to regulate the release of water from reservoirs before they reach full capacity, to control floods, he added.
The deputy commissioners of districts have also been instructed to identify and evacuate people from dilapidated schools and houses at risk of landslides, and move them to safety centers, the minister added.
Noting that the number of casualties has been controlled this year, Gowda said 67 people had lost their lives by this time in 2019, and 75 people had died during the monsoon season in 2022. This year, 58 people have lost their lives, he said, adding that "the government's precautionary measures have reduced the number of deaths."
"Nevertheless, every life is valuable, and it is the government's duty to protect every individual. Deputy commissioners of districts have been instructed to take further preparatory measures to prevent such casualties," he said.
Heavy rainfall is expected in the Malnad and coastal regions, as well as in the Cauvery and Krishna reservoir basins after August 15, he further said, and added that a crucial meeting on this matter will be held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday.
Stating that due to the rains, crops on 80,000 hectare of land across the state have been damaged, Gowda assured that compensation will be provided to all affected farmers within a week.
"While agricultural crops on 78,679 hectares have been damaged statewide, horticultural crops on 2,294 hectares have been affected. We will have accurate information within a week regarding which crops have been damaged.
Subsequently, the process of compensating farmers will begin," he said.
The compensation will be provided from the current resources available with the state government, he said. With the possibility of another one-and-a-half months of rain, there is a chance of further crop damage in the coming days. "Therefore, after the entire monsoon period concludes, a request for additional relief will be submitted to the central government."
In the current rainy season, 1,126 houses have completely collapsed, while 75 unauthorised houses have also collapsed, Gowda said. Additionally, 1,176 houses have suffered severe damage, and 2,338 houses have been partially damaged.
Overall, 8,000 houses have been affected, he said. "The government has also been very generous towards (persons whose) unauthorised houses (were destroyed), providing compensation to all those whose houses have been damaged."
If a house has been completely destroyed, compensation of Rs 1,20,000 along with a house from the government is being provided, the minister said, adding that a total of Rs 9.21 crore has been paid out for these efforts so far.
"For minor damage due to water entering houses, Rs 70 lakh has been given as compensation to 2,800 houses (owners) for repairs. Along with Rs 70 lakh for household items, a total of Rs 1.40 crore has been provided as compensation.
"For unauthorised houses, up to Rs 1 lakh in compensation has been provided. If a house has been partially damaged, under SDRF (State Disaster Response Fund) rules, only Rs 2,500 compensation is possible, but the state government has provided up to Rs 50,000 in compensation.
Additionally, 151 large cattle and 137 small cattle, including cows and buffaloes, have died across the state, Gowda said. For this, Rs 52.98 lakh in compensation has been paid.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Commercial LPG hike: Delhi restaurant owners warn of higher menu rates, job losses
New Delhi (PTI) A day after a 50 per cent rise in commercial LPG cylinder prices, Delhi's food business, with restaurant owners and street vendors have warned of higher menu rates, financial strain and potential job losses if the trend persists.
The price of commercial LPG was hiked by a steep Rs 993 per 19 kg cylinder, marking the third consecutive monthly hike amid rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.
For many in the restaurant industry, the spike has been both sudden and steep.
Manpreet Singh, honorary treasurer of the National Restaurant Association of India, said that eateries are already grappling with supply challenges alongside rising costs.
"There is a huge difficulty in getting these cylinders, and black marketing is also increasing in many unregulated sectors," he said, noting that prices that were once around Rs 1,600, often dropping to nearly Rs 1,300 with discounts, have now surged to between Rs 3,000 and Rs 4,000 per cylinder.
He further added that a medium-sized restaurant typically uses between two and five cylinders daily, making the increase particularly burdensome as costs mount.
Singh further said that as costs mount, smaller establishments could struggle to stay afloat. Instead, the association has advised restaurants to shift towards piped natural gas connections through Indraprastha Gas Limited as a more sustainable alternative.
"If this problem continues, PNG is the only long-term solution," he said, adding that temporary measures like coal offer limited relief due to slower cooking times and that it can largely be used only for tandoors.
Echoing similar concerns, Kabir Suri, owner of Mamagoto in Khan Market, said the impact is already visible across the industry. "There has been almost a threefold increase in cylinder prices for restaurants," he said, adding that rising fuel and logistics costs are compounding the pressure.
"If this continues, it will become a significant financial burden, and food prices will inevitably go up. Adding to this burden, higher fuel costs are also affecting logistics and transportation, making a price rise unavoidable. The extent of the impact will vary between small eateries and large chains depending on their scale," he said.
Global oil prices have surged nearly 50 per cent following disruptions in energy supply chains due to the West Asia conflict, pushing up commercial fuel costs and transport expenses.
A West Delhi-based restaurateur said they are trying to manage rising costs while keeping their staff secure. "We are trying to ensure that our staff, from kitchen workers to waiters, are paid on time and do not face immediate hardship," the owner said.
"We are a small restaurant with seating for about 20 to 25 people at a time. But if this continues for long, we will have to take difficult calls. There is only so much we can absorb, and menu prices will have to go up. We hope this does not continue for a longer period," he said.
Another restaurant owner in North Delhi, who did not wish to be named, said operational adjustments alone may not be enough. "We are checking our costs very carefully and trying to cut wherever possible, but if fuel prices remain high, it will eventually affect how we run the business," the owner said.
"Coal helps in tandoor cooking, but it takes more time," the owner further added.
The strain is even more acute among street vendors, many of whom operate on thin margins. A vendor in Saket said he had recently expanded his business, moving from a mobile cart to a rented outlet.
"I have a family to feed and more responsibilities now. Earlier, I managed with a moving cart, but after renting the place, expenses increased," he said. "Whenever cylinders were unavailable, I had to buy them at higher rates in the black market. Now even regular supply is too expensive, and if this continues, we may have to shut down," he added.
In Laxmi Nagar, another vendor said they are struggling to keep the business running. "Sometimes we even used domestic cylinders from home when supply ran out because we had to keep the stall running," he said, adding that rising costs leave little choice but to increase prices or bear losses.
On April 1, the rates of commercial LPG cylinders were hiked by Rs 195.50 per cylinder, followed by a Rs 114.5 hike on March 1, taking the total increase over the past three months to Rs 1,303. With the latest revision, a 19 kg commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 3,371.5 in Delhi, up from Rs 2,078.5 earlier.
The prices of domestic LPG cylinders used for household cooking have remained unchanged. They were last increased by Rs 60 per 14.2 kg cylinder on March 7 and currently cost Rs 913 in Delhi.
