Flood relief: Govt has taken steps "beyond its limits", says CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Oct 11: Strongly defending his government's flood relief measures, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said his administration has taken steps "beyond its limits".
Listing out the financial aid being given to the affected and displaced, he claimed that no other state had been able to give such a large amount of relief in the past.
Replying in the assembly to the debate on the situation in flood ravaged regions and relief work taken up so far, he pointed out that rains in early August was a record in 110 years, resulting in floods and large-scale destruction.
"The state government has gone beyond its limits to give relief to the affected and displaced due to rains and floods..
Within our limits we have done the best possible and in the next budget we will provision more to help those affected," Yediyurappa said.
He claimed that it was the first time that any state government was providing such large-scale relief.
"I'm saying this with responsibility... We fully understand that if a government cannot respond to the needs of its people in distress, it is like dead."
Noting that Rs five lakh each was being given for reconstruction to those whose houses have been damaged, he said Rs one lakh was being released now for laying foundation.
On crop loss compensation, he said NDRF norms stipulated that Rs 6,800 per hectare was to be given. The state would now add Rs 10,000 per hectare to it, he said.
For horticulture crops, the state would add Rs 10,000 per hectare to the Rs 13,500 per hectare that was to be given as per norms, he said.
For irrigated land Rs 18,000 per hectare is the norm and the government would add Rs 10,000 per hectare, he said.
Yediyurappa said Rs 25,000 would be given to damaged looms and shops and pointed out that for the first time Rs 10,000 has been given as immediate relief to people affected by floods, which was to the tune of Rs 203 crore.
A total of 2798 villages in 103 taluks of 22 districts was hit by floods and around seven lakh people were shifted to safer areas.
Ninety one people died and about 3,400 heads of cattle perished in the rains and floods.
In his reply, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said complete transparency was being maintained in providing relief as money was being deposited in bank accounts of beneficiaries through RTGS.
"We have taken precaution so that there is no room for corruption," he said.
He said 7,54,191 hectares of agriculture crops, 1.09 lakh hectares if horticulture crop, 1.06 lakh ha coffee and 244.48 ha of silk were damaged in the floods and 21,818 km of roads, 11,063 government buildings were also damaged.
Pointing out that the centre has released Rs 1,200 crore as interim relief, he said Rs 1,035 crore would be used as assistance for those whose crops were damaged.
The minister also clarified that the treasure was not empty as being alleged and that Rs 1,391 crore was in the account of Deputy Commissioners of various districts.
On the drought in some parts of the state, he said 49 taluks are facing drought and an announcement would be made in this regard within two to three days.
Unhappy with the government's response and demanding more compensation to the affected, Congress staged a walk out.
A move by senior Congress MLA H K Patil to move a motion, seeking to declare floods in the state as a "national calamity" was also objected by the ruling side.
Earlier, participating in the debate, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah targeted the government over its "failure" in providing relief to affected and said "if you (government) can't address the needs of the people in distress, quit."
He also urged the government to spend money generously for relief work from its treasury and try to get more funds from the centre for the purpose.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy asked the government to take it as a "challenge" and respond to the needs of the people.
"This is not an issue or time to do politics," he said as he extended his party's cooperation to the government in relief measures and requested that all anomalies be cleared.
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.
Karnataka power tussle: BJP leader calls Siddaramaiah 'Sultan for 15 days'
Bengaluru/Bagalkot (PTI): In the midst of the ongoing power tussle within the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior BJP leader and MP Govind Karjol called CM Siddaramaiah "Pandrah din-ka-Sultan" (Sultan for 15 days), and said after that, he will not be the chief minister of the state.
Speculation has once again surfaced within the Congress party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for Assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are announced.
"With the fight for the CM chair in the Congress, there seems to be no administration at Vidhana Soudha. The result for Siddaramaiah's CM chair fight will also be declared, along with election results for five states (four states and one union territory) and bypoll results for Bagalkot and Davanagere South Assembly seats in Karnataka," Karjol, a former Deputy CM, said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As per today's information, Siddaramaiah is a Sardar for fifteen days, he is Pandrah din-ka-Sultan, after that Siddaramaiah will not be the chief minister of the state."
Stating that Shivakumar is ready to take up the top job, the MP said that this is the reason Siddaramaiah's supporters have gone to New Delhi to meet the Congress President.
"Already 40-odd legislators have lobbied in support of Siddaramaiah; about 50 are lobbying in support of Shivakumar. Amid this fight for the CM chair, the administration has completely collapsed," he said, urging the government to focus on addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer by releasing at least Rs 50 crore per district.
PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary (in charge of Karnataka) Randeep Surjewala in New Delhi and requested them to address the speculation regarding the change of leadership in Karnataka.
Subsequently, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa too met the party leadership in Delhi.
Both Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
While MLAs and leaders who want Shivakumar to be elevated as CM have recently claimed they expect some "sweet news" by May 15, which is their leader's birthday.
Meanwhile, a team of 40 MLAs is preparing to visit New Delhi to press the Congress high command for a Cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka hit out at the Congress leadership for indulging in "power tussle" instead of addressing the people's concerns. He called the government "anti-people" and "dead" to the people of the state.
With the fight for the CM chair, the ruling Congress in Karnataka seems to be shifting to Delhi. Congress MLAs are repeatedly touring Delhi, upset over the state leadership amid a power struggle between the CM and Deputy CM. This proves that there is no value for the state leadership," he said.
Pointing out that the Deputy CM Shivakumar was not present at the recent special cabinet meeting, which decided on internal reservation among SCs, the opposition leader said, "If the cabinet meeting was held purposely, despite knowing that Shivakumar was in Delhi, it proves that there are factions within the party"
"This government is dead in a way," he said, as he hit out at the Congress MLAs and Ministers, including Shivakumar, for doing "Delhi Yatras" instead of addressing drinking water issues in various parts of the state amid summer, picking up in the state.
