Intervene to release central funds: K'taka CM to Prez

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has appealed to President Pratibha Patil for her intervention in pressing the Centre to immediately release funds to the state, to take up relief and rehabilitation works in flood-affected areas.     

Patil spoke to Yeddyurappa over telephone on Tuesday and expressed her concern over the flood-situation that has left behind a trail of destruction and loss of 206 lives as of last evening.

Yeddyurappa, in a letter to the President, said the state government has already requested Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to release Rs 10,000 crore for relief work and has urged the Centre to declare the floods as a national calamity.     

According to officials, the prime minister is expected to conduct an aerial survey of the affected regions on Friday.     

The preliminary estimate of the loss by rain and flash floods in 15 districts of Karnataka has been pegged at around Rs 17,000 crore.     

Nearly 300,000 houses have been partly or fully damaged. Standing crop in 2.5 million hectares has been extensively damaged. The standing bridges, drinking water installations and power supply infrastructure in 15 districts have been damaged to a great extent, the chief minister added.     

Meanwhile, about 660,000 people have been accommodated in 1,619 relief camps. As many as 5,197 persons have been rescued by boats and helicopters.