State to constitute 2 additional SDRF contingents: CM Bommai

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has instructed the officials to constitute two additional SDRF contingents to strengthen relief and rescue systems in the state.

The Chief Minister who held a video conference with DCs of rain affected districts, ministers and officials obtained details on flood havoc, landslides, crop losses and relief works.

Already SDRF and NDRF contingents have been deployed in the flood hit areas of the state. The DCs should maintain constant contact with these teams and take up immediate relief and rehabilitation works, Bommai instructed.

There is no shortage of funds to take up relief and rehabilitation operations. Already Rs200 cr has been released for 21 districts. The DCs should take immediate action to disburse compensation for houses destroyed or damaged, Bommai said.

Repair and restoration of roads, bridges and electric supply lines should be taken up immediately. Power supply in villages should be restored and DCs should interact with concerned ESCOMS in this regard. Adequate stock of electric poles and transformers should be ensured. Crop loss survey should be completed at the earliest and compensation should be disbursed without any delay, Bommai said.

The Chief Minister wanted the officials to issue flood alerts well in  advance and instructed for action in this regard at Bennehalla in Gadag district, Varada river banks in Haveri district and other places. Alerts should be issued to villages down stream before releasing waters from reservoirs. Precautions should be taken to prevent breach of tank bunds, Bommai said.

Bommai wanted the officials to identify the areas prone to landslides in Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada and Uttara Kannada districts and shift the people in these areas to safer places. People should be provided with good quality food at the Care Centres.

Ministers Kota Srinivasa Poojary, Ashwathnarayan, Narayan Gowda, Gopalaiah, BA Basavaraj, Araga Jnanendra, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and others participated in the video conference.

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Damages caused by incessant rains from June 1 to August 6.

* Human lives lost–70

* Death of Livestock —507

* Houses damaged completely—3559

* Houses damaged partially—-17212

* Agriculture crops destroyed –129087 hectares

* Horticulture crops destroyed—-7942 hectares

* Roads damaged—3162 kms

* Rural roads damaged–8445 kms

* Bridged and culverts damaged—1068

* Schools damaged–4531

* Anganwadis damaged—222

* Electric poles damaged—16760

* Transformers damaged—1469

* Electric wires snapped—409 kms

* Minor irrigation tanks damaged—33

According to the information up to August 2, a total sum of Rs657 cr is available with the DCs in the state to  take up rescue and relief works. The state government today released Rs200 cr for 21 districts.