Saturday, September 3 2005 15:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bijapur: Former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (JD) Secular (S) National President H D Deve Gowda today (Sept 3, 2005) called for immediate constitution of a disaster management committee to monitor rehabilitation of flood-affected people in North Karnataka.

He suggested that the committee should be formed involving members from all political parties, addressing reporters in Bijapur.

While the Union and the State Governments have responded properly to the needs of the affected people, Gowda said he has appealed to the Center to provide special relief packages for the flood victims.

Demanding the State Government to undertake relief measures on a war footing, he said he has also urged the Center to waive off loans and accord proper compensation to farmers who have suffered crop loss.

Gowda said the letter issued by Union Water Resources Minister, Priyaranjan Das Munshi on storage of only 509 metres of water in Alamatti dam was in view of the heavy rains in Maharashtra and urged the opposition parties not to 'mislead people' on the matter.

JD (S) Supremo also urged Chief Minister Dharam Singh to present properly the issue raising the height of Alamatti dal before the Krishna tribunal, in the light of interest of the farmers.