Flood caused `15,400 cr loss, says CM as Central team arrives to assess damage

Bengaluru: The Inter-ministerial Central Team (IMCT) arrived in Bengaluru on Sunday to assess damage in flood-affected areas in the State. After a meeting with the team, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for releasing funds for flood relief.

Speaking at the meeting, he said the State faced floods in Krishna and Bhima basins in a single year. "I express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and Union Home Minister Shri. Amit Shah ji for personally reviewing the flood situation twice and releasing Rs 577.84 crore from NDRF for flood relief and for deputing a second Inter-Ministerial Central team to Karnataka," he said.

According to reports, the six-member IMC team headed by Ramesh Kumar Ganta, joint secretary, NDMA, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, will be split into three teams of two members each, and undertake visits for on-the-spot assessment of flood/landslide affected areas. On Monday the team will visit Kalburagi, Vijayapura and Udupi to assess the damages caused by floods and landslides that occurred in September. It will hold discussions with Revenue Minister R. Ashok and Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday.

"The flood/landslides have caused damage to crops in more than 16 lakh hectares, around 34,794 houses and critical infrastructure. The total estimated could be in the region of Rs 15,410 crore. To provide immediate relief the State Government has disbursed input subsidy of Rs 551.14 crores to 7.12 lakh farmers. Despite severe financial constraints Rs1320.48 crore has been committed for flood relief, repair and reconstruction. In view of the estimated Rs 15,410 crore loss, I urge the Central team to recommend release of central assistance to enable us to provide relief to the affected people and to take up repair to damaged infrastructure" Mr Yediyurappa further added.

Floods have hit the State in three phases this year. While the first phase was from August 1 to September 15, the second and third occurred between September 15 and 30 and October second week and third week. The State government is providing a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to those whose hoses were completely damaged, Rs 3 lakh for severe damaged houses and Rs 50,000 for partially damage.

The Central team will decide the quantum of compensation for the second and third phases. In the second phase of floods, 50 taluks in 16 districts were affected, while several northern areas were affected in the third phase.