A longer wait for central flood aid to Karnataka deluge victims

BENGALURU: Flood victims will have to wait longer for a financial package as the state government is revising its request for central funds.
The new request, technically a memorandum, will cite a loss figure lower than Rs 38,451 crore that the state had mentioned in its first proposal to the Centre.
The state needs funds to repair the damage caused by the deluge and landslides and to compensate those displaced.The Centre sent the first memorandum back.
According to an official, it would take at least a week to revise it and a month to complete the follow-up. “Fresh surveys are being conducted to validate the data. We may be able to send the revised memorandum by next week,” said revenue minister R Ashoka.
Officials in the revenue department said a much lower quantum of compensation would be sought in the new memorandum. It could be less than Rs 25,000 crore.
The central government has taken objection to the preliminary assessment of the flood damage on certain counts. It has clarified that commercial establishments such as hotels and hospitals are not covered under the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) and asked the state to come up with actuals rather than estimates of funds required to clear debris.
The Centre has also asked Karnataka to provide the names of intended beneficiaries of compensation for house damage. The first memorandum, sent on August 30, said 2.47 lakh houses had been damaged in the floods. Officials said the actual number was likely to be 50% lower.
Under NDRF, the Centre grants Rs 95,000 for a house if the damage is over 75%. Going by this calculation, the state can expect only Rs 1,140 crore if the number of houses damaged is around 1.2 lakh.
“We are aware the disbursal of aid is getting delayed because of procedural reasons. We are trying to speed it up,” said Union minister DV Sadananda Gowda.