Bengaluru: The Union government’s silence on the quantum of funds likely to be sanctioned for relief operations in flood-hit areas is the cause of concern for the state government as well as Opposition parties despite requests sent to New Delhi for release of Rs 5,000 crores as interim relief and pleas to declare the flood-hot state as a national calamity.
Union home minister and BJP president Amit Shah and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited inundated areas but have not spelt out the financial support for relief and rehabilitation of thousands displaced by floods and to kin of those buried alive in landslides or washed away by swollen rivers in north Karnataka, Malnad region and south interior Karnataka. In his letter to PM Narendra Modi, JD (S) president Mr H D Deve Gowda termed the disaster a national calamity, and requested Mr Modi to release Rs 5000 crores as interim relief.
The opposition Congress came out with all guns blazing against the B.S. Yediyurappa government and termed the Centre’s ‘zero-response’ as unfortunate with State Congress president Dinesh Gundurao threatening to launch an agitation if the Centre failed to announce a relief package for the state soon.
