BANGALORE : It has been reliably gathered that the several mutts which joined hands with the government in its ‘Asare’ scheme to provide rehabilitation for the flood victims of north Karnataka, are now sore over the government for its non-cooperation in the implementation of the scheme. Reports also indicate that the government has even chosen to ignore some of the mutts by failing to provide statement of the amount donated by them for the purpose. There are doubts regarding the effective use of even the crores of rupees collected by means of Padayatra by the government.

It is worth mentioning here that the worst floods which the north Karnataka region experienced several months ago, had left lakhs of people homeless and destitutes. Relief however poured in abundance from all over the state and the nation. Meanwhile, several mutts of the state too came forward to help the victims and joined hands with the government in the implementation of the Asare scheme. Apart from the mutts, nearly 210 organizations had entered into an agreement with the government for constructing houses to the victims. But, the disinterest shown by the government in the implementation of the scheme, is presently refraining several of these organizations from going ahead with the project. Not only that, it has even delayed the completion of the construction of the houses by some mutts.

The Adichunchanagiri seer has already criticized the government for not providing details of the utilization of the funds donated by the mutt to it. Soon more skeletons began to roll out from the cupboard. The mutt of the Okkaligas had promised to provide Rs 50 crores for construction of 5000 houses in five districts including Bijapur and Raichur. It had even released Rs 10 crore as a first installment. But the government by demanding the remaining Rs 40 crores without providing information on the utilization of the first instalment , has invited the ire of Sri Balagangadharnatha Swamiji.

“ The Mutt had availed a bank loan of Rs 10 crore to come to the aid of the victims on humanitarian grounds and is also paying interest on the loan amount, Now the government is asking to pay the remaining Rs 40 crores. The bank is now unwilling to advance this amount as loan without clearing the earlier amount. If the government provides details of how the Rs 10 crore had been spent, we are ready to release the remaining amount in phases,” the seer said.

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