Bengaluru, Nov 10 (IANS): Karnataka has sought Rs 2,100 crore from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for relief and rehabilitation works in a dozen districts ravaged by heavy monsoon rains and floods, an official said on Tuesday.

"The state government has submitted a report to the Centre on the damages and losses suffered due to heavy rains and flash floods during the southwest monsoon between August and October," a revenue official told IANS here.

Bagalokote, Ballari, Belagavi, Bidar, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir in the state's north and northwest regions were the worst affected by the incessant rains and flash floods.

"Release of excess water from dams across major rivers like Krishna and Bheema in the region and from neighbouring Maharashtra flooded villages/towns and damaged rural infrastructure and crops ahead of harvesting," the official said.

Rural infrastructure, including roads, bridges, state highways, electric poles, telephone lines and houses were destroyed or damaged in the natural disaster.

"The state disaster management authority has declared 173 taluks in 25 of the 30 districts across the southern state as flood-affected areas," said the official.

"Though the overall loss is estimated to be Rs 9,833 crore, the state is eligible for Rs 1,078 crore as per the NDRF norms," he added.

The compensation for rains and floods in August and September is estimated to be Rs 1,306 crore.

According to the state agriculture department, crops in 20.6 lakh hectares of farmlands were damaged in October as the southwest monsoon extended beyond September in the coastal, northwest and northern regions of the state.

The state government has already utilised Rs 2,385 crore for rescue and relief operations from the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

About 48,500 houses were damaged while 1,935 animals (livestock) were lost in rains and floods.

Horticulture crops in 1,99,236 hectares and plantation crops in 55,808 hectares across the southern state were also damaged in the natural calamity.

"A central team of observers are due to visit the state after Diwali to assess the losses due to heavy rains and floods," added the official.

The department has urged the Central government to extend work for 50 more days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGS) from 100 days in a year to make for the loss due to heavy rains, floods and the Covid pandemic since mid-March.

Flood-related loss in three months Rs 24,941 crore

The state has suffered flood-related loss of Rs 24,941 crore during the last three months. It is looking to get financial support from the union government so that compensation can be disbursed.

Floods had devastated crops in three phases between August and October. As many as 24 districts have faced acute losses and financial help is very much necessary to speed up relief works.

In the first phase, flood situation worsened in the first phase between August 1 and September 15. In the second phase, it happened between September 16 and 30. The third wave hit Karnataka in October.

The state already has pleaded with the government twice in the past. It has sent a detailed report including the loss in three phases three days back. Central study team has already scrutinised the details once. It has recommended for the immediate relief of Rs 2,384.89 crore National Disaster Relief Fund. Already the study team and union home ministry have held two rounds of talks. A final figure will be revealed after the final meeting, revenue department sources said.

Before the state sent the above request, chief minister B S Yediyurappa, had written to the central government seeking Rs 10,000 crore immediately but no response has so far been received. On account of coronavirus, tax collection and other income has fallen everywhere and there is a financial crunch for relief works.

The government had, during the last year, expected Rs 10,000 crore in the first phase and Rs 3,500 core under National Disaster Relief Fund but the central government gave Rs 1,869 crore.. As grants of various departments were diverted towards relief works, development works have suffered. Therefore, the state is expecting a huge sum to come out of the crisis.