K'taka seeks additional Rs 2,000cr immediate aid

Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement of Rs 1,000 crore assistance to flood-hit Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today sought an additional Rs 2,000 crore for providing relief to the lakhs of victims of the rain fury in northern districts.

Yeddyurappa, who accompanied the Prime Minister in an aerial survey of some of the villages of the district which bore the brunt of the flood devastation, told reporters here that he requested Singh for early sanctioning of another Rs 2,000 crore.

He said he briefed the Prime Minister elaborately on the rain havoc and drew his attention to the memorandum sent by Karnataka to the Centre seeking Rs 10,000 crore aid for taking up relief and rehabilitation works.

Yeddyurappa said opposition Congress leaders, including KPCC President R V Deshapande, also appealed to the Prime Minister for higher aid to the state.

All legislators of Karnataka have pledged to donate their one-month salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, he said.

Yeddyurappa said the government had decided to re-locate 219 villages that were were perennially prone to floods in parts of North Karnataka region.

He said after October 14 he would camp in some of the villages for about 10 days, hear the grievances of villagers and discuss about rehabilitation issues.