Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jun 11: State Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, has alleged that the government has not properly utilized the flood relief fund to rehabilitate the affected victims. He said he has already served notices to the flood relief management officials, seeking their explanation for the same.

“The report by the special team deputed to inspect the works, has revealed that the government has not properly utilized the flood relief funds.  Nepotism is found to be rampant,” Hegde commented.

However, state Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, refused to admit that the BJP too has misused the funds collected from the people for flood relief. He claimed that the government has not so far received any notice in this respect from the Lokayukta. “There has not been any lacuna in the usage of flood relief fund. If there have been any mistakes, we will rectify them. I am committed to provide accounts for every rupee the government has collected under this head, in the next assembly session. There has been delay in rehabilitating the affected. This task will be completed within the next three months,” he claimed.

Yeddyurappa said that he has instructed the deputy commissioners concerned to increase the pace of flood relief works. He claimed that over 40% of the houses have already been completed and that the task of handing them over to the affected people would be completed before December this year.

In the meanwhile, state home minister, Dr V S Acharya, and law minister, Suresh Kumar, met the Governor on Thursday and held detailed discussions with him on the flood relief works undertaken by the government. During the discussions spanning over two hours, it is learnt that the ministers gave clarifications on the utilization of the flood relief fund, and also about the controversial ‘Akrama-Sakrama’ scheme of the government, relating to both of which the Governor had expressed his reservations recently.