Deccan Herald 05.06.2013
Palike seeks Rs 25 cr to tide over rain disasters
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
has sought Rs 25 crore from the State government’s calamity relief fund.
BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said the calamity relief fund was
reserved only for the rural areas, while it was also required in the
urban areas.
“The BBMP is not getting the calamity
relief fund. The convention is to spend it only in the rural areas,
while it is essentially required in cities like Bangalore,” said
Lakshminarayana.
Given that the State government has promised all assistance to the BBMP, the amount may be released, said Lakshminarayana.
He
was addressing a press conference convened by Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy
to brief about the action taken by the Palike in view of the heavy rains
recently.
Murthy said the City had never received 109 mm
rainfall on a single day in the last many years. At Kathriguppe, a
culvert is on the verge of caving in due to the massive flood, while
many potholes have surfaced on important roads in the City.
Taking
a lesson from the recent flooding, the Palike has prepared a roadmap,
according to which assistance will be provided to those who suffered
damages due to heavy rain. It is in this regard that the calamity relief
fund will be utilised.
The Palike has taken up desilting of
drains on a war-footing and instructions have been given on effective
disaster management, Murthy said.