Kumaraswamy makes aerial survey of flood-hit Belgaum dist

Belgaum, Aug 4 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today announced the State Government would double the compensation to farmers who had lost their crops in over 71,000 hectares of land in the floods mainly in Krishna and Bhima rivers, caused by heavy discharge of water from Maharashtra following torrential rains in the catchment areas.

Speaking at Reddenahalli in this district before making an aerial survey of flood-hit Gokak, Jamkhandi, Mudhol and Athani taluks, caused by Krishna and Ghataprabha rivers, he said the compensation would be doubled from the amount paid by the previous Dharam Singh Government during floods last year. Rs 2,000 would be paid for per acre of pulses and grains lost, while for horticultural crops lost the payment would be Rs 8,000, he announced.

The Chief Minister said the Government was thinking of permanently shifting 28 villages in Belgaum and five in Bagalkot districts on the banks of river Krishna as they were badly affected almost every year due to floods. For this, Rs 288 crore was needed as per an estimate and funds would be sought from the Union Government when he would lead an all-party delegation to New Delhi to discuss with the Prime Minister the contentious border issue with Maharashtra on August eight. The Government would submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister after completing assessment of the total loss in this regard, he added.

''I will complete this job (shifting the villages) before the remaining 14 months of my tenure as Chief Minister,'' he announced.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the Government had kept aside Rs 19 crore for relief work to be taken up in flood affected areas. Of this, Rs 13 crore had already been released -- Rs five crore to the worst hit Belgaum district, Rs two crore to Gulbarga, Rs three crore to Bagalkot, Rs two crore to Bijapur and Rs one crore to Raichur.

The State Government would also impress upon the Centre to release funds to compensate crop loss in 157 taluks of the State, which had received scanty rainfall during this monsoon.

''The Government will not repeat the lapses that occurred during last year's floods. Flood situation is not that alarming, but there is heavy crop loss. That is why the Government is doubling the compensation,'' he said.

The Chief Minister would be staying in a mutt in flood-affected Naganur village tonight, before leaving for Gulbarga to inspect the flood-hit areas.

Earlier speaking at Belgaum airport, he said the all-party delegation would urge the Prime Minister not to encourage Maharashtra to rake up the border issue.

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