BJP demands Rs 1000 cr relief from Centre for rain-hit K'taka

Bangalore, Apr 1 (UNI) BJP in Karnataka today demanded the Union government to announce an immediate relief of Rs 1000 crore in the wake of widespread losses suffered by the farmers due to unseasonal rains lashing the state during the last 15 days.

A BJP delegation, led by state unit President Sadananda Gowda, today submitted a memorandum to Governor Rameshwar Thakur highlighting the destruction caused by unseasonal rains in many parts of the state.

Briefing newspersons at the Rajbhavan, BJP General Secretary H N Ananta Kumar said, according to official figures, 24 people had lost their lives in the rain-related incidents, while Rs 500 worth crop, mainly horticultural and plantation crops, had been lost.

"It is unfortunate that the Centre has remained unconcerned and not bothered to send a team to study the crop and property losses," he said.

"When rain caused damages in Mumbai last year, the Prime Minister had announced a relief of Rs 500 crore. Similarly the Centre should announce an immediate relief of Rs 1000 crore to help the rain battered farmers. We also demanded that the Union government to send a central team to review the situation immediately," he said.

He said deaths and crop losses were reported from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Dharwad, Kolar and Bangalore districts.

The Governor had told the delegation that Rs 70 crore had been spent so far by the state government to take up relief works, Mr Kumar added.

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