From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Oct 13: The heavy rains during the last four months from June 1 to September 30 has resulted in 13 deaths and damages to 48,485 houses besides crop losses in 9,90,957 hectares.

This was revealed at a video conference meeting with Deputy Commissioners of districts held by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai from Hospete in Vijayapura district on Thursday. Water Resources Minister Govind M Karjol, Women and Child Welfare Minister Shashikala Jolle and in-charge ministers of all districts as well as senior officials participated in the video conference meeting.

The Chief Minister said he will hold another meeting to review the situation arising out of the damages to infrastructure facilities and public properties in another three days.

The Chief Minister informed that 48,485 houses had been damaged in different districts from June 1 to September 30. Out of the total damaged houses, compensation had been paid to 42,661 houses.

Details of the rain havoc from October 1 till date

• Loss of lives 13
• Death of cattle 28
• Damages to houses 3309
• Crop losses 6279 hectares
• Relief Centres established 5 to provide shelter to 1,330 persons

Details regarding crop losses compensation during monsoon

During the monsoon crops in a total extent of 9,90,957 hectares were damaged and 8.83 lakh farmers have been paid compensation of Rs 947.8 crore in respect of crops in 6,16,138 hectares.

Steps are being taken to clear the compensation of about Rs 250 crore due to 2 lakh farmers in the next two days.

Bommai informed the Deputy Commissioners to utilise the Rs 635.13 crore available in their PD accounts for taking up relief and rehabilitation works.

DCs asked to visit, ensure no lapses in relief

The Chief Minister directed all the Deputy Commissioners to visit the districts in view of the unprecedented heavy rains in different parts and ensure that there were no lapses or delays in the payment of relief or compensation.

Bommai said that he has learnt that mistakes and lapses in recording the details of rain related damages and losses and asked the Deputy Commissioners to personally monitor the process. Requests for compensation payments must be recorded based on factual position and the staff must be told to be vigilant, he said directing that action must be taken against lax staff as well as those shirking their responsibilities.

He said the State Government has already asked the Disaster Management Commissioner to ensure that more compensation than that prescribed under the National Calamities Relief Fund (NCRF) is paid to the affected people.

Deputy Commissioners must personally visit the affected places, review the situation and direct the Tahsildars of the taluks concerned to ensure that recording of data and payment of compensation must be without any lapses, Bommai said.

The Chief Minister advised the Deputy Commissioners to expedite applications for compensation from farmers for payment of compensation for crop losses and take steps to conduct joint surveys to ensure that compensation must be paid within a month.

Classification of Infrastructure Damages

The Chief Minister pointed out that infrastructure facilities, especially roads, bridges, culverts and electricity supply lines had suffered heavy damages due to rains and asked the Deputy Commissioners to take steps to classify the damages into A, B and C categories for taking up steps to rectify and repairs.

While the infrastructure damages to be classified in the C group based on the severity, which has to be repaired as NCRF norms and those requiring additional funding from the government under the B category and the facilities to be completely restored under A category so that the State Government could take necessary steps for repairs, he said.

The Chief Minister, however, directed the authorities to take steps to repair the damages to electricity poles and transfers within 24 hours to restore power supply.

Steps must be taken to take precautions against breaches in tanks and lakes based on the flow and storage of water. Repairs of roads, bridges and culverts must be taken up on a priority basis, Bommai said.