Karnataka - Madikeri   

MLAs seek more funds for relief work

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, AUG. 10. The elected representatives from Kodagu district on Tuesday urged the State Government to release more funds for relief work as rain had devastated the district.

K.G. Bopaiah, Madikeri MLA; H.D. Basavaraj, Virajpet MLA; and C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLC, told the Revenue Secretary, Jayanti, that funds should be released immediately to take up relief work. The Deputy Commissioner, Srikant Valagad, gave details of the damage caused by rain. The President of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat, Chitra Ramesh; her deputy, Papu Sannaya; the Chief Executive Officer, P.L. Budihal; and the Superintendent of Police, Devajyoti Ray, attended the meeting.

Ms. Jayanti said she would inform the Government about the situation. She said Rs. 1.50 crores (calamity relief fund) was already with the Deputy Commissioner that could be utilised for providing immediate relief.

Mr. Machaiah said the Government had not released any funds in the last four years as rain damage relief.

Mr. Bopaiah said losses in Madikeri taluk alone were estimated to be Rs. 10 crores.

The Municipal Commissioner, Rangaswamy, told Ms. Jayanti that there were 17 unoccupied Ashraya houses that could be allotted to the homeless.

Mr. Basavaraj urged the Government to release funds immediately to repair the Perumbadi Bridge connecting Kodagu with Kerala, near Virajpet. He said students and the public used a raft made of bamboo to cross the Lakshmanateerta river at Kumtur and Kembukolli in Virajpet taluk as the hanging bridge had collapsed.

He said many trees had been uprooted in plantations where pepper was grown. Paddy crops had been destroyed in Balele and Nittur areas. Many Ashraya houses and cattle sheds had collapsed because of rain. He wanted the district administration to provide polythene sheets to cover the roofs of the huts of the tribal people.

Mr. Machaiah said loss to coffee plantations was high in Birunani, Parakatageri and Teralu areas.

The view that compensation would be paid to those who suffered losses less than Rs. 30,000 was unscientific, he said.

To this, Ms. Jayanti said only small and marginal farmers were eligible for compensation. Mr. Bopaiah said the Revenue Department should provide compensation immediately instead of waiting for clearance from other departments.

He wanted the Revenue and Forest departments to conduct a joint survey of forest encroachments.

The Government should ask the Forest Department to stop harassing people.

Elephant trench

Mr. Machaiah said removing silt from elephant-proof trenches should be taken up as part of the rain damage relief work as elephants strayed into human habitations and destroyed crops. The representatives took exception to the apathy of the Forest Department in cutting branches that protruded on to the roads in several areas.

Mr. Basavaraj asked the officials to adhere to the norm of five-metre jungle clearance from the roads to prevent rainwater falling from trees damaging roads. The department took more care of animals than the tribal people, he said.

Mr. Basavaraj took the Minor Irrigation Department officials to task when the latter said water was supplied at Rudruguppe for irrigation from a project completed by it.

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