Karnataka CM says all flood-hit villages to be relocated India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that all villages that were marooned in the recent floods in Karnataka would be relocated to safer places. Talking to reporters here on Sunday, Yediyurappa said: "We are going to acquire about 5,000 acres of land for relocating the villages. We are expecting we may require around 300 crores for that formation of sites and road and other purposes." "For each 1 lakh houses means that we may require 1,000 crores for that. We have already collected and already people have promised about 700 crores. We require another 300 crores for the construction of houses in the area. So we have promised the people of Karnataka that 101 percent within one year we are going to shift all the flood affected villages to the safe place," he added. The floods have wrecked havoc in northern parts of Karnataka, described by officials as the worst in many decades, killing over 280 people besides rendering several thousands homeless. Floodwaters have swamped millions of acres of farmland and damaged standing crops of sugarcane, maize, rice and wheat. The loss of sugarcane has given rise to worries of sharp fall in the output of sugar in Karnataka, the country's third-biggest producer. Following the calamities, the Centre has already released the second installment of over Rs. 209 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund to the two states. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had announced Rs. one lakh each of ex-gratia from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those killed in the floods. The Armed Forces have rescued 3,600 people in the states.