Centre has not rejected state's flood report: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Oct 4: With pressure mounting on the BJP government over the 'delay' in central aid for flood ravaged Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said funds are likely to be released in three to four days, as he clarified that the union government has not rejected the report on damage submitted by the state.
His statement came amid media reports that the Centre had sent back the state government's report on flood and rain related damages in Karnataka.
Yediyurappa said two government officials have been summoned by the Prime Minister and Amit Shah to Delhi on the basis of the figures submitted by the state, which were being tallied and verified.
"All our central Ministers have raised the issue in the cabinet. There is a similar situation in several states. In my opinion funds will be released in three to four days,"he said.
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, he said the state government had not waited for central funds, but released Rs 3,000 crore from the exchequer for relief work.
In the coming days, government would allocate more funds from the budget for repairing roads and bridges, he said.
Yediyurappa said the report sent by the state government was being verified with that of the central study teams to tally certain figures.
"Where is the question of rejecting (it)?" he asked.
Karnataka sent a flood damage estimate of Rs 35,160.81 crore to the union government, reducing it by Rs 3,290 crore after the centre objected to inclusion of private buildings that were affected.
A total of 103 taluks in 22 districts were affected due to the floods in August, in which over 80 people were killed.
Around seven lakh people were shifted to safe areas and thousands of houses were damaged.
BJP governments at the centre and the state have been facing flak from the opposition Congress and JDS over "delay" in grant of central funds despite Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman and Inter-ministerial Central Team visiting the affected region.
The Opposition has accused Modi government of showing its "apathy" towards Karnataka, despite the state sending 25 BJP MPs to the Lok Sabha.
BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and MP Srinivas Prasad,as also some staunch RSS and BJP supporters, have also expressed strong reservations over delay in release of central funds.
Speaking to reporters, Prasad said the centre had so far not come forward to grant relief.
"...what is happening? there is a limit to our patience.
Keeping public interest in mind we have to speak...our central Ministers from here have to play a pro-active role...let's not test peoples' patience,it will lead to difficulties," he said.
Yatnal opined that at least interim relief should have been given.
The Union Home Minister and Finance Minister had come to the state and seen the situation, he said, adding the final relief amount could be given later after all the calculations and tallying.
Meanwhile, Yeddyurappa's purported statement "Where is the money with the state government? It is empty", drew flak from the opposition Congress and JD(S).
While Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah demanded Yediyurappa's resignation, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy claimed the exchequer had enough funds and there was no financial difficulty.
"Hon. @CMofKarnataka Shri.@BSYBJP avare, After accepting that your govt has gone bankrupt, you have no moral right to stay in Power even for a single minute.
Please resign & leave the office immediately. Don't punish our people," Siddaramaiah tweeted.
Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said the Chief Minister, who had himself said there was no financial problem, was now stating that the exchequer is empty.
He said he had been Chief Minister for 14 months and felt there was more than enough funds with the exchequer.
Revenue Minister R Ashoka said there was no fund shortage.
"The department is overseeing flood relief and there is no shortage of funds....not sure what exactly the Chief Minister has said," he added.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
