By IANS,
New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa Tuesday sought from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over Rs.6,600 crore as immediate relief following the recent flood devastation in the state.
Yeddyurappa told Singh that the Sep 30-Oct 2 rain and flashfloods had left a trail of devastation in north Karnataka, causing a loss of Rs.18,500 crores.
Besides killing over 220 people, the floods damaged around 650,000 houses and destroyed crops in about 2.5 million hectares.
Singh, who made an aerial survey of the affected areas Oct 10, has already granted Rs.1,000 crore to the state as interim relief.
Yeddyurappa also sought waiver of agriculture loans, enhancement of crop compensation amount and Rs.2,000 crore for permanent relocation of over 200 flood-prone villages.
Before calling on Singh, Yeddyurappa met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
Yeddyurappa’s efforts to take an all-party delegation from the state to Singh failed with the Congress and Janata Dal-Secular accusing the chief minister of “playing politics in the times of crisis”.
State Congress chief R.V. Deshpande and JD-S state president H.D. Kumaraswamy told reporters separately that the state government should first properly utilize the funds available instead of rushing to the central government for more financial aid.
Yeddyurappa was accompanied by Home Minister V.S. Acharya, Revene Minister G. Karunakara Reddy, Rural Development Minister Shobha Karandlaje and Bangalore South MP H.N. Ananth Kumar.