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Fakir Chand in Bangalore
The Karnataka government has declared a special rehabilitation package worth Rs 638 crore [Rs 6.38 billion] for the displaced people of the marooned Bagalkot town, located on the banks of the Upper Krishna Project in the northern region of the state.
Announcing the package, state Chief Minister S M Krishna said the government would raise the required funds from banks and financial institutions.
Bagalkot got partially submerged last month after surplus water was released from the Almatti reservoir in Andhra Pradesh, when its storage level reached its maximum height of 519.60 metres.
Thousands of people had to be evacuated due to the inundation.
The Almatti reservoir received excess water in August after it was released from Krishna river that originates in Maharashtra, thanks to a delayed southwest monsoon revival in that state.
The rehabilitation package envisages the state government to acquire all structures up to 525m in the town and its adjacent villages in a phased manner at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore [Rs 4 billion].
"Immediate action will be taken to acquire first all structures up to 523m of elevation so as to ensure that the backwater level is 100m away from the nearest building," Krishna said.
Another Rs 100 crore [Rs 1 billion] will be spent on improving the basic infrastructure of the town, including civic amenities that were battered by the flooding waters.
The package will also undertake shifting of 11 existing slums to a new colony and the setting up of 4000 Ashraya houses for the affected people, including oustees at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
Of the total package, about Rs 400 crore will be spent on Bagalkot town alone, with the rest going to the affected villages and displaced people living on the banks of the Ipper Krishna river basin.
"We will also provide employment to the affected artisans and farm labor at a cost of Rs 100 crore [Rs 1 billion], utilizing funds available with the UKP authorities, and the raising the remaining funds from commercial banks," Krishna said.
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