The State government will relocate flood-affected villages only if all the residents agree to it in writing, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said here on Tuesday.
He was addressing flood-hit families in Sureban village near Ramdurg. If the residents submit such a demand, we will recreate the village by building schools, hospitals, and other facilities, he said.
Mr. Yediyurappa was responding to a plea by Mahadevappa Yadawad, MLA, to permanently relocate 29 villages and nine wards in Ramdurg town that are prone to floods.
Funds for houses
The Chief Minister said though rules stipulate that only ₹90,000 can be paid to victims who lose their houses to floods, we have decided to pay up to ₹5 lakh per family. A sum of ₹1 lakh will be released to those who start construction by laying the foundation, he said.
Rest of the money will be released in instalments. Those who want to repair their houses will also be paid ₹1 lakh. The first instalment will be paid in one week, he said and added that he has directed the officials to set up temporary sheds for those who would move out of the relief centres.
“Those who cannot move in immediately into their houses because of the damage will get ₹50,000. They can live in rented houses or temporary shelters. Petty traders and vendors who have lost their livelihood will also get ₹10,000,” he said.
The Chief Minister asked Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli to release a cheque of ₹5 lakh to the family of a person who went missing after the floods, treating it as legal death.
Mr. Yediyurappa visited the affected villages in Ramdurg taluk and instructed officials to prepare estimates to build walls on the periphery of the villages to stop the Malaprabha waters from entering in.
Barrage construction
A barrage will be constructed between Sanna Hampiholi and Hire Hampiholi villages. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai asked the residents to help the officials locate land for shifting of villages or construction of infrastructure facilities.
Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, MLAs, MLCs, and other officials were present.
Earlier, the Chief Minister told journalists in Belagavi that flood relief was his top priority.