Torrential Rains During Last Fortnight Cause Rs 500 Cr Loss

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 11: Torrential rains during the past two weeks in different parts of the state have caused damage to crops to the extent of 20 per cent and the total loss has been estimated at Rs 500 crore.

Crops about to be harvested were damaged in Chitradurga, Kodagu, Haveri, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Mandya, Hassan, Gadag, Belgaum and Chickballapur districts which received torrential downpour for the last two weeks, according to state agriculture minister Umesh V  Katti.

Addressing a news conference in Bangalore on Thursday, he said crops such as jowar, paddy, maize, ragi and potato were damaged extensively in some districts.

Though detailed reports from districts were yet to come, the minister said preliminary reports indicated that 20 per cent of the total crops were damaged in different districts.

Katti said he would be calling on union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar next week in Delhi to seek Central aid to compensate crop loss of farmers.

The state would also seek withdrawal of ban imposed on export of the high quality of Sona Masoori rice.

The state is one of the major produces of Sona Masoori, which is a premium variety of rice. The production of Sona Masoori rice is in excess of the requirement for local consumption, he said.

''The Centre is adopting step-motherly treatment on the issue of export ban," he alleged and accused the Congress-led UPA regime at Centre of taking a decision to allow rice export from Punjab, much before the harvesting season had commenced there.

The state had expected good harvest during this khariff season following sowing on 98.9 per cent of the targeted 74 lac hectares.

It is now expected that the foodgrain production, which was targetted at 123 lac metric tonnes in 2010-11, is likely to be reduced by at least 20 per cent and the survey to assess the crops loss is on, Katti said.

The foodgrain production in 2009-10 was 106 lac tones.

CM Sanctions Rs 3 Cr for Rain-hit Chitradurga

Meanwhile, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is on a tour of different districts for distributing sarees to the mothers of the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme’s beneficiary girls, has sanctioned Rs 3 crore for rain-devastated Chitradurga district.

The chief minister announced the release of money for taking up urgent relief works in Chitradurga district where incessant rains have claimed six lives in the past four days.

Yeddyurappa, who visited the rain-battered district along with water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai and revenue minister G Karunakara Reddy, told reporters that the district had suffered a total loss of Rs 35.72 crore due to heavy rains.

Some 3,764 houses have been damaged in the district,of which 1573 houses have suffered severe damage, 213 partially damaged and 57 houses have collapsed, he said.

The damage to the roads, culverts and bridges in the district is estimated to be Rs 20.32 crore, Yeddyurappa said.

The chief minister visited Mallapura tank and a small hamlet Matada Kurubarahalli and then proceeded to Hosadurga taluk in the district.