Newly appointed Ministers to visit flood-hit areas

The expanded cabinet of the Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa's government in Karnataka that met for the first time here on Tuesday decided to send all the newly appointed Ministers to flood-ravaged districts of the state to assess the relief and rehabilitation being undertaken there.

More than three weeks after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister, Yediyurappa on Tuesday expanded his ministry by inducting 17 ministers into his Cabinet.

"In today's cabinet meeting, it has been decided that the Ministers who were sworn in will visit the flood-hit areas on Wednesday and the day after. They will review the situation and relief and rehabilitation work being undertaken there," Minister J C Madhuswamy said.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, he said, "After spending two days in flood-hit areas, we will meet once again and discuss the steps to be taken up."
Districts of north, coastal and Malnad regions were devastated by rains, floods and landslides in the first fortnight of this month
Asked about relief from the Centre, the Minister said, "There is no relief yet from the Centre, but we are hopeful Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the funds soon. We are hopeful more funds will be released towards construction of houses to those displaced."