11/3/2009
The Union home minister, Chidambaram, keeps mum on additional funds for relief works
Rehabilitation work gained momentum in Bagalkot district on Monday after Union home minister P Chidambaram and chief minister BS Yeddyurappa laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of flood-affected villages.
The state government has joined hands with the private sector to launch the 'Aasare' programme to shift the flood-affected villages. The Rajiv Chandrashekhar Foundation, BIOCON, CISCO, GMR, Seva Bharathi and Karnataka Builders' Association will construct 8,000 houses for the flood-hit in Bagalkot district.
In Sharabadagi, the state is providing land for free on which corporates will construct schools, hospitals and houses and provide infrastructure like roads, drinking water supply, electricity etc. Seventy-two villages in Bagalkot district will be shifted in phases. Ten villages are being shifted in the first phase.
Praising the rehabilitation work, Chidambaram said, "We don't want calamities, but they bring out the best in people. It is good to see so many corporates generously contributing for this cause."
He said the Centre has announced Rs1,000 crore for the state for immediate relief works. However, when asked about additional funds for flood-relief, he refused to comment, saying that the prime minister would decide on the issue.
Yeddyurappa, however, reiterated the state's demands for a Rs16,500-crore central grant for rehabilitation works. He also demanded doubling of crop insurance amount, waiver of farm loans, allocation of two lakh houses under Indira Awas Scheme and a Rs2,000-crore assistance to shift flood-affected villages.
"I will be visiting Delhi on November 5 to meet the prime minister. I have received more than Rs1,500 crore through donations and many organisations have come forward to help build houses for the flood-hit. On the whole, over five lakh houses have been damaged in the floods," Yeddyurappa said. h_srikanth@dnaindia.net
