‘Do not politicise Kodagu disaster’

MADIKERI/MYSURU: Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy exhorted the opposition not to politicise the suffering of Kodagu flood survivors. He was speaking in Madapur after launching work on construction of new houses for those who had lost their homes in landslides and floods that ravaged the district in August.

Kumaraswamy appeared to be hitting back at Pratap Simha, BJP MP, who lauded the Centre for releasing Rs 546 crore for Kodagu’s survivors. Simha also demanded the state government do more for people of the districts.

It all began with tourism minister SR Mahesh saying the Centre did not step forward to support flood survivors on time. He said Kerala received a special package for flood relief work, but Kodagu didn’t.

Simha, who spoke after the CM, said false statements were being issued that Kerala got a special package while Kodagu didn’t. “Roads are being built with the support of the central government,” Simha said. “It is like mentioning the names of father and mother while admitting a child in school.”

Clearly irked, the CM asked Simha to end his speech. Kumaraswamy clarified that the funds released by the Centre were for flood-affected people in eight districts including Kodagu.

“This sum has to be used under guidelines of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force),” Kumaraswamy said. “The Centre is only repaying tax which is obligatory. I don’t want to comment on separate stands taken by representatives, but I am here to assure Kodagu survivors that the state government will do its best to rebuild Kodagu. I request survivors not to lose confidence. We have formed an authority to monitor rehabilitation and rebuilding work and as chairperson of the authority, I will attend to grievances of victims.”

Deputy chief minister G Parameshwara said the chief minister’s relief fund received more than Rs 200 crore in donations for the Kodagu cause. Kumaraswamy praised Kodagu DC, PI Sreevidya, for carrying out relief work in a timely manner. He promised that the relief fund will not be misused and every rupee will be accounted for.