From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 14: Pitching for big donations from corporates in the massive task of rehabilitating the flood-hit districts of Karnataka, which has caused losses and damages of over Rs 40,000 crore according to preliminary estimates. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has made an attractive offer of naming villages rebuilt after companies donating Rs 10 crore or more in the task of rehabilitation.
The Chief Minister, who caired a meeting with industrialists and entrepreneurs at Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, urged industrialists to donate funds liberally in the wake rain mayhem in northern and southern districts of the State.
Yediyurappa said the flood-hit villages will be named after the companies that donate more than 10 crore rupees towards reviving the villages.
Officials from 59 companies in different sectors of the economy participated in the meeting.
A total of 103 taluks in 22 districts have been badly affected due to rains.As many as 6.97 lakh people have been relocated to relief camps and 1,160 relief centres have been set up all over the state. A total of 56,000 houses have been declared unfit for dwelling.
Pointing at the grave situation in the State, the chief minister said 200 villages in 22 districts are in need of relocation.
Appealing to the industrialists to lend a helping hand and donate to the cause, he said the flood-hit villages will be renamed after the company donating more than Rs 10 crore.
The village would be treated as the village adopted by company that donates money for the relief work.
Echoing the Chief Minister’s call, Principal Secretary Gaurav Gupta appealed to industry leaders to liberally contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
“This is a disaster of unforeseen magnitude and it requires all of us to join hands and work towards a common goal. I am confident our industry and business leaders will be with us in this undertaking,’’ he said.
Chief Secretary T M Vijayabhaskar and Industries Department Commissioner Gunjal Krishna attended the meeting.
Britania Company has offered to supply food items, while TVS Motors has donated Rs 1 crore. GSK Company and Universal Builders Company has offered to take up revival of primary health care centres in all districts.
Shahi Exports has offered to supply sarees and women’s wear, Corporation Bank has agreed to give its contribution in a week, Toyota Compa has donated Rs 2 crore, Credai Rs 3 crore while several other companies have promised to provide assistance in cash and kind.
State Cabinet decisions
Meanwhile, the State Cabinet has accorded its approval for taking up the Shivamoga-Shikaripura-Ranebennur rail line at an estimated cost of Rs 956 crore.
In another project involving Chief Minister’s home district of Shivamoga, the minor airport would be development at a cost of Rs 38 crore through the KSIIDC and administrative approval was granted for taking Rs 285 crore lift irrigation schemes from Varada river for the 66 minor irrigation/zilla panchayat tanks in Soraba taluk.