Belagavi: Describing that Karnataka was witnessing unprecedented flood havoc, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who is camping in Belagavi supervising the relief and rescue operations, appealed to the people to donate generously saying that at least Rs 5,000 crore would be required for relief and rehabilitation operations.
The Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the tech giant Infosys, volunteered to donate Rs 10 crore.
"I appeal to donors with folded hands that we are in a peculiar situation. Please donate generously," the chief minister said addressing reporters after inspecting the flood-ravaged areas in Belagavi in north Karnataka.
He said at least 30,000 houses were required to be built, adding, there was no dearth of resources to carry out our relief operations.
Yediyurappa also said four teams of public representatives have been formed to supervise relief operations in different flood and rain-affected areas.
The Belagavi team would be headed by him and Union Minister of State for Railway Suresh Angadi whereas former chief minister Jagadish Shettar would lead the Dharwad team.
K S Eshwarappa would head the Shivamogga team while Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje would head the coastal team, he said.
He also said at least five lakh cusecs of water would be released from Koyna Dam due to the grim flood situation in Maharashtra.
Yediyurappa also visited several flood-hit areas of Belagavi and adjoining districts.
In Belagavi town, basement of many residential and commercial complexes were filled with waist-deep water causing power shut-down. Many vehicles were submerged.
Roads virtually resembled rivers while there was no power in several parts of the city.
Severe drinking water crisis has also been reported in many parts of the district as water gushed into Hidalkal and Rakaskop dam pump house, the two sources of water supply in the city.
The district administration has declared holiday for schools and colleges till August 10.
Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and the JD(S) targeted the BJP government on the issue of tackling the flood situation.
"You (BJP) could arrange special aeroplane to ferry disgruntled MLAs (of Congress and the JDS) to Mumbai but you could not arrange a helicopter for the poor people dying due to flood," the Janata Dal (Secular) tweeted.
The party charged, "Do you get sadistic pleasure by seeing lakhs of people in distress? Is this why you toppled a perfectly functioning govt? To see people suffer? Shame on you!"
The Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by H D Kumaraswamy collapsed last month after the group of rebel MLAs resigned, reducing the government to a minority.
Thereafter, the BJP staked claim to form the government and Yediyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister on July 26.
Rejecting the Congress and the JD(S) charge, the BJP said the state government has opened 186relief camps in the flood effected districts sheltering and feeding 14,775 victims.
"GOK is constantly working towards opening more relief camps and supply adequate food & clothing for victims," the ruling party tweeted.
Former union minister M Veerappa Moily too hit out at Yediyurappa, alleging he is "busy" transferring deputy commissioners, police officers and chief executive officers indiscriminately when the state is reeling under floods.
"One-man government of B S Yediyurappa has become defunct. Government of India is not responsive as they have not sent any assistance or mobilised any rescue or study teams. The government is rudderless even after 2 weeks of snatching power," he charged.
