Karnataka estimates rain-related losses at Rs 7,647 crore

The state government has estimated losses to the tune of Rs 7,647.13 crore because of heavy rainfall that pounded the state in July and August, killing at least 96 people and displacing thousands.

Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the government will ask the union government to release Rs 1,012.5 crore as compensation as per National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) guidelines and to depute an Inter-ministerial Central Team to assess the losses.

According to Ashoka, crop losses and damages to houses are estimated at Rs 3,973.83 crore, while infrastructure loss, including roads and bridges is worth Rs 3,673.3 crore.
“Karnataka is facing floods and landslides for the fifth consecutive year,” Ashoka said. “We will petition the union government to release Rs 1,012.5 crore in one go,” he said.

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“To those affected by the rains, we are giving double in terms of monetary relief. No other state is giving the kind of compensation that we are,” Ashoka said.

The state government has also petitioned the Centre to release the second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) worth Rs 332 crore in advance to provide compensation and take up relief activities.

For the current fiscal, Karnataka is sanctioned SDRF worth Rs 885 crore, of which Rs 664 crore was the Centre’s share. The first instalment of Rs 332 crore is already released by the Centre, Ashoka said.

Surveys conducted by the state government revealed agriculture crop loss in 5.51 lakh hectares, horticulture crop loss in 17,050 hectares and multi-year crop loss in 12,014 hectares. Crop loss was reported in a total of 5.81 lakh hectares of land in Karnataka.

Due to flooding, as many as 23,794 houses suffered damages, of which 9,776 houses were damaged completely or severely.

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The government has also estimated damages to 22,734 km of roads, 1,471 bridges and canals, 499 minor irrigation tanks, 6,998 classrooms, 236 primary healthcare centres, 3,879 anganwadis, among others.

Apart from it, 24,052 electric poles, 2,221 transformers and power lines running a length of 497 km were also damaged, Ashoka said.

The government has taken up relief activities to aid those affected by the current spell of flooding and 8,217 people are shifted to safer locations.

Till date, the state government has released Rs 12.94 crore as immediate relief for 12,946 families, Ashoka added.