From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 5: Terming the release of Rs 1200 crore by the Centre to Karnataka on Friday as just an ``advance grant and a temporary measure,’’ Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday expressed confidence that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will take necessary steps to do justice to the people of Karnataka.
Speaking to reporters separately in Bagalkot and Vijayapura districts, he said the Centre has asked the State Government to rectify some errors in its assessment of the extent of loss and damages to property and crops in the recent flood havoc. "We are take suitable measures to correct the errors and a revised report will be submitted to the Centre soon,’’ he said.
He dismissed his predecessor JD(S)-Congress coalition government’s Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy that the Prime Minister did not have time to meet him (Yediyurappa) and was not bothered about the plight of people of Karnataka,’’ Yediyurappa said implementing developmental works and taking care of the relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people was more important.
“We can meet Prime Minister any time. He is our beloved leader, who has too many responsibilities,’’ he said and pointed out that Kumaraswamy does not know the responsibilities of the Prime Minister.
Yediyurappa asserted that the State Government had sufficient funds to take care of the people to carry out relief and rehabilitation works. The work will be carried out with even more vigour after we get the Central funds, he explained.
The Chief Minister said his government had taken the bold decision of sanctioning Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the people who lost their houses due to floods, which was unprecedented.
He promised to take up with his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Padnavis on the issue of raising the height of the Almatti dam to 524.256 mts as permitted by the Krishna River Water Disputes Panel.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the increase in the height of the Almatti dam will lead to submersion of 20 villages and the people will have to be translocated before the work could be taken up at a cost of Rs 20,000 crore.
Yediyurappa promised to ensure that his government will earmark Rs 20,000 for raising the height of the Almatti dam and translocation of the people of 20 villages likely to be submerged in next year’s budget.
In Bagalkot district, the Chief Minister different facilities under the Dr Ambedkar Development Corporation and later reviewed the relief and rehabilitation in Bagalokot and Vijayapura districts. He also offered ‘baagina’ at the Lal Bahaddur Shastry dam in Almatti of Vijayapura district.
Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol, Minister C C Patil, MLAs Charantimath, Murugesh Nirani, Siddu Savadi, Doddannagouda Patil and others accompanied the Chief Minister.