Karnataka seeks Central aid of Rs 300 crore for flood

New Delhi, July 13 (UNI) A delegation led by Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today met Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Home Minister Shivraj Patil to seek Central assistance of Rs 300 crore to overcome the losses in the wake of floods caused by Krishna waters released from upsteam Maharashtra.

The delegation consisting of Mr Kumaraswamy and state Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettigar told both the Union ministers that the state has suffered Rs 406 crores of losses to standing crops and properties. The money will be used for flood relief and rehabilitation measures which left 206 people dead since April 2007 marooning villages, disrupting road communication and other infrastructure.

The Ministers were considerate to the pleas of the Karnataka Government and they have agreed to dispatch a Central team to assess the damage very soon, he said.

Mr Swamy and Mr Shettigar said unlike last time, the water releases from Maharashtra did not cause much damage because they had given prior intimation and coordination existed between the two states. But the heavy rainfall in Karnataka aggravated the problems, they said.

The two leaders will be meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later today.

UNI