Karnataka monsoon fury: CM Siddaramaiah directs officials to take measures to tackle floods

BENGALURU: In response to the looming threat of floods, chief minister Siddaramaiah convened a review meeting with district deputy commissioners (DCs), zilla panchayat chief executive officers (CEOs) and other key officials to bolster the state’s flood preparedness and response mechanisms.
He pointed out that a 7% increase in rainfall has been forecast this monsoon season and underscored the importance of early identification and mitigation of waterlogged areas.Highlighting the potential scale of the challenge, Siddaramaiah said 2,225 villages and over 20 lakh residents are susceptible to flood and landslide risks. He said the urgency of identifying vulnerable areas and promptly implementing long-term relief measures.
“With the monsoon intensifying, it is imperative that all district officials remain vigilant and proactively engage in mitigating the impact of flood and aiding affected people,” Siddaramaiah said during the meeting in Bengaluru on Monday.
Directives were issued for immediate compensation under the State Disaster Re sponse Fund (SDRF) for households and farmers affected by heavy rain. Siddaramaiah directed district administrations to establish task forces across 177 taluks and 1,247-gram panchayats identified as high-risk areas. Their brief is pre-emptive evacuation and relocation of vulnerable populations to safer locations.
Compensation to farmers
He expressed dissatisfaction over delayed compensation for farmer suicides, noting that out of 1,003 eligible cases, only 994 families had received compensation so far. Stressing zero tolerance for delays, he directed immediate action to expedite the remaining compensation claims and called for a farmers’ meeting to enhance awareness and confidence among the community.
BPL cards mess
Addressing socioeconomic disparities, he highlighted the need for accurate identification of below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries and the need to streamline resource allocation and ensure equitable distribution of govt assistance. He said only 8% of the state’s population has BPL cards, compared to 40% in Tamil Nadu.
“Yet, ineligible BPL cards should be cancelled, and BPL cards should be provided only to those who are eligible,” Siddaramaiah said.
On poor SSLC results, Siddaramaiah acknowledged declining academic performance in some districts, attributing it to stringent measures against exam malpractice. He urged officials to uphold educational integrity while ensuring fair examination procedures.
Siddaramaiah also addressed bureaucratic bottlenecks affecting social security schemes, with over 3,784 applications pending settlement. He mandated a 30-day resolution timeline for these cases, citing the state’s responsibility to its 76 lakh pension beneficiaries, the highest in the nation.
The CM also expressed concern over undervalued land registrations and the recovery of outstanding royalties amounting to Rs 310 crore. He issued directives for timely issuance of documents like caste certificates, essential for citizens to secure educational and employment opportunities.