Speaking at a press conference at Madikeri Sudarshana Guest Houserecentlyafter visiting and inspecting the landslide and flood affected areas of Kodagu, Karnataka Chief Minister (CM) Siddaramaiah said that a total of 746 crore rupees in natural calamity relief fund with all Deputy Commissioners across the state and added that 46 crore rupees is in the PD account of Kodagu district Deputy Commissioner. He said that more money will be release if needed and there is no scarcity of funds for natural disaster management.
CM further said that it is now very difficult to repair the landslide area and roads as the rain is continuously pouring and added that Kodagu received heavy rains in July. 67 houses have been damaged in the district due to rains 176 houses have sustained partial damage. Houses with total damage will be provided an immediate compensation of Rs 1.20 lakhs while owners of the partially damaged houses will get a compensation of Rs 50,000.
Siddaramaiah also said that due to heavy rains in the district 16 cattle have died and a compensation of 35 thousand each has been given. 14 relief camps have been opened. There are 186 people in 10 camps and added that he personally visited and talked with those who were in the Torah camp.Â
The CM further said that as many as 2,708 electric poles have been damaged in the district and 2,558 of them have already been replaced. 344 km of roads belonging to PWD and Zilla Panchayat (ZP) have been damaged. The repair work will resume after the monsoon on a priority basis. Horticultural crops were damaged in 28 hectares. A joint survey will be conducted by the Coffee Board and the Revenue Department, he informed.
CM also said that a clear instruction has been given to complete the land subsidence repair work of the Deputy Commissioner office by December.
Speaking further he said regarding Kasthurirangan report it will be once again discussed with the forest minister since the state government had decided to reject the Kasturirangan report earlier and the decision will be reconsidered, he added. CM also said that a decision will be taken after looking at the GSI report for the permanent solution in the landslide areas.
District in-charge Minister Bosaraju, MLA A. S. Ponnanna, Dr. Manthar Gowda, former minister M.C. Nanaiah, Chief Secretary to Government Shalini Rajneesh, District Congress President Dharmaja Uthappa, former MLC Veena Acchaiah, State Congress Women’s Unit President Pushpa Amarnath, Kodagu district Deputy Commissioner Dr Venkata Raja, Superintendent of Police K. Ramraj, Congress leader H. S. Chandra Mauli, M Laxman, K.B. Shantappa, were present on the occasion.
