From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Aug 6: In view of the extensive havoc caused by the heavy rains in different parts of Karnataka, especially in coastal and malnad regions, leading to destruction of standing crops, damages to roads and bridges as also disruption of normal life, former minister and JD(S) leader H D Revanna has urged the State Government to immediately ask the Centre to depute a team of officials to assess the extent of damages to properties and crops.
Speaking to reporters, the JD(S) leader said the heavy rains destroyed standing crops, and damaged arecanut, coconut, coffee and cardamom plantations in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Shimoga and Hassan districts.
A large number of electric poles had been uprooted, roads and bridges were damaged, school buildings and houses had collapsed in large numbers, he said.
The JD(S) leader estimated the damages to roads and bridges alone was to the order of Rs 1000 crore.
The Centre should send a high-level official steam to assess the actual damage to crops, public and private properties in the State and ensure that the State Government took urgent steps for rushing to the rescue of the people suffering from crop loss and loss of properties, he said.
The JD(S) leader said the visit of the Central team would also help the State to get more funds from the Natural Calamity Fund so that relief and repair works could be taken up urgently.
He alleged that the officials had under-estimated the rain damages at Rs 300 crore and pointed out that the extent of the damages and loss in Sakleshpur taluk alone was of the order of Rs 300 crore.
The actual loss would be at least ten times more than the estimated figures given by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at a review meeting here on Monday, Revanna contended.
There has been a glaring differences in actual damages caused and assessed by the Revenue Department officials, he alleged.
Electricity supply had been disrupted in several villages of malnad district on account of damages to transformers and poles. Road connectivity had been lost following damages to roads and bridges.
Villagers were deprived of access to health care facilities due to bad roads in districts such as Chamarajnagar, Kodadu and Uttara Kannada, he said.
While some districts were suffering from massive rain havoc, he said districts such as Kolar, Chikballapur, parts of Hassan and Yadgir have been facing drought on account of scarcity of rainfall.
He urged the Government to release Rs 20 lakh and Rs 10 lakh each for tackling the problems in flood and drought hit districts respectively and for taking up relief measures.
In the case of house collapse, Revanna demanded compensation of at least 60 per cent of the construction cost.
''Officials have been paying a meagre compensation of Rs 1500 per house,” he said and contended that the amount was grossly inadequate.
The district in-charge minister should camp in their respective districts to monitor and expedite relief measures, he said.
The JD(S) leader claimed that his party would retain both the Bangalore Rural and Mandya Lok Sabha seats in the ensuing by-elections.
Answering questions, he clarified that JD(S) had not any indirect support from BJP nor had any tacit understanding with the saffron party.
''Why should we depend on the support from other parties to retain the seats in our own strongholds?,” he asked and said there was no need to reject if any party or its workers decide to support the JD(S) candidates
However, the JD(S) would not reject if BJP were to extent unconditional support , he said indicated that he would be actively campaigning in the two constituencies.