From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jul 25: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa promised that the State Government will provide suitable relief to the people affected by the incessant heavy rains in Belagavi district after assessing the damages by conducting complete survey of the places severely impacted by the downpour.

The Chief Minister, who flew to Belagavi by helicopter to conduct an aerial survey and held discussions with the district officials on Sunday, said the State Government has made all arrangements to provide food in the temporary shelters and assured the people that the government was fully behind them and do everything possible to provide relief.

After the rains stop, door-to-door survey of the inundated places will be conducted to assess the damage and decide the quantum of relief, Yediyurappa said.

Revenue Minister R Ashok, who accompanied Yediyurappa, said arrangements have been made to provide relief as per the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) guidelines and made it clear that officials have been given directions to ensure that relief operations were carried out.

Yediyurappa said 50 acres of land was available to ensure that permanent rehabilitation of the people displaced by the rains in Sankeshwar town and declared that the State Government was ready to construct houses for the victims, if they choose to move to the new place.

Belagavi Deputy Commissioner M G Hiremath said as per preliminary assessments as many as 630 families have been affected by the heavy and continuous rains during the last one week and the district administration has made arrangements to provide temporary shelters and food is being supplied.

The Chief Minister visited Sankeshwar town in Hukkeri taluk and Yamagarni village of Nippani taluk which have suffered the worst damages.

Almost all the rivers in Belagavi district were in spate due to the heavy rains and release of water from neighbouring Maharashtra State since last one week. Hiranyakeshi, Krishna, Vedaganga, Ghataprabha and Malaprabha rivers were in spate resulting in inundation of several villages.

Deputy Chief Minister and district in-charge minister Govind M Karjol, Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Katti and other local legislators were present during the Chief Minister’s rounds and review meeting.