Central team to visit K'taka to assess flood-damage

A Central study team would visit Karnataka for three-days from October 21 to assess damage due to recent floods in northern and coastal parts of the state that took a heavy human toll and left a trail of destruction, causing losses valued at thousands of crores of Rupees.

The team will comprise officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation, Finance (Department of Expenditure), Road Transport and Highways, Rural Development, Power and Water Resources besides those from the Planning Commission, officials said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has urged all government officials to voluntarily work two hours extra every day to help the government undertake the huge task of relief and rehabilitation works of the flood-hit.

"This is an unprecedented calamity, which requires committed action by every member of society," he said.

"Government officials play a significant role in providing relief and succour to the affected masses by ensuring that the benefits of the Government reach them in time. Two hours of extra work (one hour extra in the morning and evening) will certainly hasten the process of rehabilitation. It is only voluntary and will not be implemented by force".

Yedduyrappa thanked Government employees associations for having contributed one-day salary towards rehabilitation work.

Karnataka has already promulgated an ordinance providing enhanced expenditure under calamity relief from Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 2,500 crore.