Bengaluru, Aug 3: Karnataka Energy Minister K.J. George has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to allocate a special relief package for Chikkamagalur district, beyond the current National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) grant, to address extensive damage from recent heavy rains and strong winds.
In a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, George, who is also the district in-charge for Chikkamagalur, detailed the severe impact of the weather events. He noted that the NDRF grant is inadequate for the necessary remedial work and requested additional state funding for disaster relief.
George described his recent visit to the affected areas, highlighting collapsed houses, severely damaged roads, landslides, fallen trees, and damaged power infrastructure. He emphasized the disruption caused to road connectivity and the need for temporary alternative routes.
A temporary compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh has been provided to those with destroyed homes, and new houses will be built under the Rajiv Gandhi housing scheme at Rs 3.80 lakh each. Road repairs are underway to restore traffic. George stressed the need for permanent solutions to the landslide issue, which cannot be addressed solely with NDRF funds.
The Minister revealed that officials are preparing a comprehensive damage report for Chikkamagalur, which will guide further state assistance. The Chief Minister has responded positively to the request for additional support.