Rs 8,000 crore loss in Karnataka floods: BS Yediyurappa to Centre

Chief Minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa has informed the Central team that the total loss due to the floods this year has gone up to Rs 8,071 crore. Crops of 4.03 lakh hectares have been damaged.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday informed the Central team visiting the state to assess the damage caused to crops and properties that has caused Karnataka to suffer a loss of Rs 8,071 crore due to the recent floods.

The six-member Central team led by Ministry of Home Affairs joint secretary KV Pratap met the chief minister and held discussions along with senior ministers and officials of the state government on Monday.

The chief minister said, this time crops in about 4.03 lakh hectares have been damaged.

Yediyurappa also gave a detailed report on roads, bridges, electric poles, schools, anganwadis and government buildings which were also damaged.

BS Yediyurappa also informed officials that the government was aiding reconstruction of damaged houses, noting that Rs 5 lakh was being given to those whose houses are fully damaged, Rs 3 lakh for severely damaged and Rs 50,000 for partially damaged houses.

Yediyurappa added that "Last year, Rs 1,500 crore was spent for this and this year, despite COVID-19 difficulties the government will spend Rs 200 crore”.

The chief minister further informed that for COVID-19 control and floods Rs 460 crore has been released from the State Disaster Relief Fund and to manage both these situations additional funds are required.

BS Yediyurappa also said that the guidelines for providing relief under SDRF and NDRF need to be revised this year and requested the Centre to revise it immediately and release more funds to help people in distress.