Bengaluru, Jan 8: The second instalment of flood relief funds from the Centre, announced on Monday, has left BS Yediyurappa less than cheerful, with the chief minister insisting that it is barely adequate. The CM on Tuesday said he will urge the Union government to release more.
On Monday, the Centre announced it will release Rs 669.8 crore in addition to the Rs 1,200 crore it had released earlier towards flood relief and rehabilitation. The total sum is a small fraction of the loss, which the government pegged at a staggering Rs 38,000 crore.
“The Centre has released assistance in two instalments so far, but it is inadequate given the magnitude of the damage. I will request for more funds and I am confident the Centre will oblige,” Yediyurappa told reporters.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the state last week, Yediyurappa had urged him — even openly at a function — to release funds. This followed several pleas over the past four months, which barely drew a response from the Centre. Now, the CM himself suggests it’s barely a drop in the ocean.
The opposition has been criticizing both Yediyurappa and the Centre for their handling of the situation and on Tuesday, leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah of the Congress criticised the CM for “misguiding people” on the sum released by the Centre.
Siddaramaiah tweeted, “Reports from State govt officials say only Rs 669 cr of addl funds are released in 2nd instalment as opposed to the claim of Rs 1,870 cr by Karnataka BJP leaders. At a time when manufacturing industries are closing, BJP’s fake news factory is running at full potential ".
In another tweet, he said, “Moved by the plea of chief minister, Yediyurappa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released an additional Rs 669.8 crore, taking the total amount to Rs 1,869.8 crore. BJP leaders, who are devotees of the god of lies, attempts to depict the total relief amount as 1200+1869.85 = Rs 3,069 cr is ridiculous.”
A high-level committee chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah had sanctioned the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) funds on Monday. While the Press Information Bureau claimed Rs 1,869 crore was approved on Monday, state government officials clarified that the figure included the Rs 1,200 crore released in October.
Meanwhile, sources say the two instalments is all the assistance the state can expect from the Centre towards flood relief. Sources say the Rs 1,870 crore is roughly 60% of the funding — Rs 3,000 cr— which was supposed to be allocated for Karnataka, based on an inter-ministerial team’s assessment of losses in the state.
“Compared to other states for the same period, Karnataka has received the highest amount in flood relief. We cannot expect more,” said a revenue department official, who said the government will not approach the Centre for a special package.
However, revenue minister R Ashoka said the state will pitch for the entire Rs 3,000 crore. “The state government will pursue the matter with the Centre until it releases the entire Rs 3,000 crore. The state government will cover the remainder of the Rs 38,000 crore loss. We will not go back on our word,” Ashoka said. Incidentally, the state has spent about Rs 6,000 crore on relief and rehabilitation so far.
Comments
To all Parents
Please don't listen to this uneducated BJP moron. Please educate your daughters and then get them married. so they can standup on their own feet if needed. Regardless of your religion.
Hello cow dung brain man sangeeth...muslim ruled indian for 1000 years..that time all hindu are happily living together....when maron people org RSS came to our land all destroyed.. you are the people who became the first slave of british and licking there boot for power plz check the history..you people are coward..you can sell your family & soul to BJP maron party but not all esteem hindus...keep in mind lion is always lion...its image will not fade if some name sake maroon make comments...jai india.. jai hind
what a good idea,,, chalo chaloo karthe hai thera beti ka shaadhi karvaake.
This prooves, with the present goverment of fools we are already gone 100 years backwards in developement.
Rubbish... Who made such fool as MLA
People wont learn from this. They need experience. If RSS not in India, Muslims people may convert India into a Muslim country
He said the truth. It is better than love jihad
Shame on you.. should punish him for the nonsense statement
I cant believe, how people supports BJP fools again and again.
Should arrest him and give him punishment for promoting child marriages.
In headline, no need to mention its BJP MLA. "MLA" is enough. We knew, only BJP MLAs are fools and they will only utter such nonsenses
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