Siddaramaiah tweets series of question to CM BSY over flood relief

Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has started a row with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on the issue of flood relief.

In a series of tweets under the ‘#BSYUttaraKodi’ (BSYGiveAnswers) in Kannada, the former chief minister asked: “The State government has stated there’s no money for flood relief and for COVID-19 treatment and is in the process to borrow Rs 90,000 crore saying that the State’s coffers are empty. So where did all the money go? Did it go to the pockets of the chief minister and other ministers?”

“According to the report submitted by the State government to the Centre, of the 2,24,000 houses damaged by floods last year, only 1,24,000 houses have been provided compensation. How will this government provide relief for the houses that have been damaged by this year’s floods?” he added.

“Those who lost crops and houses last year have not been properly compensated and no survey was conducted this year. Chief Minister and ministers are busy in the election campaigns. The ministers in-charge of the districts and the district officials are resting at their homes, while the flood victims are on the streets,” he said.

“The State government had asked the Centre Rs 35,000 crore as flood relief the past year. This time the State government has asked for Rs 4,000 crore. Are you afraid to even ask for relief package from the Centre now?” Siddaramaiah questioned.

“130 taluks of 23 districts were affected by floods due to heavy rains for three months since August. While 10 lakh hectares of farmland was damaged last year, 11 lakh hectares of land was lost this year. The farmers have been hit by this double loss,” he added.