Hubballi: Both officials and flood victims in the little town of Chinchali in Raibag taluk of Belagavi district are in a fix as the schools, which provided shelter to those who had lost their houses in the disaster, have re-opened.
The people in the shelters were left flustered when asked by officials to move out of the schools, and many were forced to move into the homes of their relatives in the absence of any alternative arrangement by the authorities. Although the district administration has given them some cheques as compensation, many have not been able to encash them yet and use the money for rented accommodation either.
Nearly half the town of Chinchali, which has a population of around 20,000, went under water as the Krishna river overflowed.
Around 2,300 families were left homeless and were provided shelter in 10 schools in the town. They are now finding it difficult to get rented houses and the officials are having a tough time making alternative arrangements for them since the schools reopened.
The delay in conducting a survey of the houses that collapsed in the flood, has also added to the people's troubles.
Town panchayat chief officer, S G Pujar, when contacted, said he had to evict the flood victims from the schools after the they reopened following their two week break.
“Many victims are continuing to live in relief camps although they can move back into their houses as the flood water has receded. We have only asked such people to vacate the camps. We will continue to provide shelter to the victims, who have lost their houses," he claimed.
