'No fund crunch': CM amid concern on relief, rescue op

Karnataka has witnessed its highest recorded rainfall in May in over a century, affecting 28 districts and leaving behind a trail of destruction, said chief minister Siddaramaiah, during a progress review meeting of the revenue department on Friday.

- Arun Dev

BENGALURU: He directed officials to intensify relief operations, accelerate land-related clearances, and ensure better preparedness, especially in flood-prone regions like Bengaluru, officials familiar with the matter said.

In light of the extreme weather, Siddaramaiah said financial support would not be a hurdle in relief efforts. "There is no shortage of funds to provide compensation for rain damage," he assured, noting that over ₹1,000 crore is currently available under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Compensation guidelines have already been issued and officers were instructed to ensure that immediate assistance reaches people whose houses have been damaged or destroyed due to heavy rainfall.

An amount of ₹1.2 lakh is being offered as immediate compensation for homes that are completely damaged, the chief minister said, adding that district collectors must take action similar to last year's efforts by facilitating new housing for those affected. Additional assistance should also be extended under the ongoing housing schemes.

The chief minister instructed all deputy commissioners and zilla panchayat chief executive officers to visit rain-hit areas without delay and supervise compensation disbursement directly. He also directed that in cases of landslides, precautionary evacuations must be carried out to prevent fatalities.