Karnataka Rajyothsava Awards for 2009 swept away by floods!
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Oct 12: The unprecedented flood havoc in northern parts of Karnataka, which resulted in the worst-ever devastation in the state’s history due to such natural calamity, has resulted in a complete scaling down of the Rajyothsava Day celebrations on November 1. Apart from simple and low-key celebrations, the customary presentation of Rajyothsava Awards will be given the go by this year.

Announcing this after a meeting of senior government officials and department secretaries as well as cabinet ministers at Vidhana Soudha on Monday to take stock of the post-floods situation and discuss the steps to be taken for the rehabilitation of the lakhs of affected people, the chief minister said the government would present this year’s Rajyothsava Awards next year along with the Awards for the year 2010.

"This is an extra-ordinary situation and we have decided to take drastic steps as part of the government’s resolve to concentrate on taking up the relief and rehabilitation works,’’ he said pointing out that the government can give the Rajyothsava Awards for two years together next year.

The chief minister pointed out that the people should be willing to contribute their mite as the government had not burdened them with any taxes for the last two years.

While addressing the senior government officials and ministers, the chief minister emphasized the need for taking up rehabilitation works on a war-footing and asked the officers and all government officers to work at least two extra hours. ``Come to work an hour early and go an hour late. Don’t take any leave for the next couple of months. I want this kind of commitment from all officers and employees,’’ he said.

In addition to the Rs 1,000 crore central assistance sanctioned by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan  Singh as an interim grant for the relief and rehabilitation of flood victims, the chief minister said the padayatras conducted by him and other ministers had already yielded over Rs 700 crore.  ``We will, hopefully, double the amount of fund collection,’’ he said pointing out that the government expected further grants from the Centre after the amount already released was utilised.

The additional resources of Rs 2,000 crore raised through flood taxes  should be a big help, he said asking the officials to ensure that the rehabilitation works were carried out in a transparent manner.

Yeddyurappa announced monetary compensation at the rate of Rs 2,000 per hectare for dryland, Rs 4,000 per hectare for agricultural land and Rs 6,000 per hectare for horticultural crops as part of the interim measures to help the farmers to recover. ``The compensation amounts should reach all the farmers who lost crops within the next three to four days,’’ he said declining to term the compensation as a Diwali gift.  ``The farmers have lost  everything. How can a meager grant be termed as Diwali gifit?,’’ he asked.

The chief minister said he would be personally happy if the farmers are able to revive their agricultural operations in the next three months. ``We are sparing no efforts to take up rehabilitation works on a war-footing and rebuild collapsed or completely damaged houses within the next six to twelve months,’’ he said pointing out that 219 villages along river banks or constantly flood-prone low-lying areas would be relocated to safer places.