Flood situation improving in K'taka

Bangalore, Aug 5 (UNI) The flood situation in five districts of Northern Karnataka is improving, with the waters of swollen rivers Krishna and Bhima receding to a considerable extent.

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy made an aerial survey of the affected areas in Gulbarga district as 159 villages in Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga and Raichur districts were caught in the swirling waters of the two rivers Talking to reporters in Gulbarga, Mr Kumaraswamy said he would lead a delegation to the Prime Minister soon to seek a financial aid of Rs 288 crore to take up relief works in the flood-ravaged districts. Standing crops in 1.80 lakh hectares have been destroyed and over 3.64 lakh people hit hard by the deluge, he added.

Assuring to provide sufficient funds to take up rehabilitation works in the flood-hit areas, he pointed out that Rs 13 crore had been released to the flood-hit areas. The issue of announcing compensation to farmers who lost their crops would be discussed with the Finance department officials.

In the worst affected Belgaum district, life in six villages in Gokak taluk was limping back to normalcy following the swollen rivers Ghataprabha and Krishna receding considerably. Consequently, the district administration decided to close down two relief camps in Gokak taluk.

In Alamatti in Bijapur, the inflow into river Krishna increased to 3.2 lakh cusecs, while the outflow was 3.56 lakh cusecs. The level in the reservoir stood at 517.14 m as against the full level of 519 m. All the 26 crest gates have been opened. In Narayanapur dam, the inflow was 3.51 lakh cusecs and the same quantum of water was being discharged, with the water level at 490.28 ft.

Rs 14.7 crore worth crop loss was reported in 7,035 acres of land at 30 villages of Indi taluk. Tarapur village in Sindagi taluk was marooned.

In Gulbarga district, incessant rains continued, adding to the woes of the people already affected by the heavy release of water from Ujjini and Veerbhatkal dams in Maharashtra.

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