KARWAR: R.V. Deshpande, Minister for Cooperation, said on Tuesday that property worth Rs. 49 crores has been damaged in heavy rain in Uttara Kannada. Presiding over a meeting to review the progress achieved in the implementation of development schemes here, he said this revised estimate was arrived at after a detailed survey conducted recently. The Government has sanctioned Rs. 8.4 crores for relief works.

He said compensation for crop loss is being paid at Rs. 2,000 a hectare. Work on damaged roads and bridges will be taken up on priority. The Karnataka Road Development Corporation has provided Rs. 11.15 crores for the purpose.

Mr. Deshpande said there is a proposal to privatise the State highways in the district. Work on bridges across the Kali and the Sharavati and on the national highway in the Arbail Ghat area will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 3.3 crores. Roads will be developed in Karwar, Ankola, Sirsi, Dandeli and Bhatkal taluks under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) project. All road development works will begin in October. He said the fruit and flower markets set up in Karwar and Sirsi under the ADB project are not being used. There is a proposal to launch a mobile health clinic in Joida taluk to reach healthcare to remote villages. There is a shortage of 13 doctors in public health centres in the district. Doctors will be appointed on contract, Mr. Deshpande said.

Buildings for public health centres at Samshi, Salkod, Kathur, Diggi, Doddamane and Jagalpet villages will be built under a scheme of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. Ambewadi, Baire, Mogta, Hanehalli, Hoslur and Hasragod villages have been identified for development under the "Kugrama-Sugrama" scheme. Each village will be given Rs. 20 lakhs, he said.

Mr. Deshpande said an action plan is being prepared to provide basic amenities at the rehabilitation colonies of the Seabird Naval project. The Assistant Commissioner and the tahasildar have been asked to visit these colonies and submit a report within 30 days.

The district administration has prepared a dairy development project for women affected by the Naval project. A society is being established for the purpose. Cows will be provided to members of the society at a cost of Rs. 1.80 crores, the Minister said. Regarding tourism, he said Rs. 2 crores will be spent on beautifying the Karwar beach. The work has been entrusted to the Karnataka Land Army Corporation. Work on a warship museum on the beach will commence next month. The Unchalli Falls, Sahasralinga near Sirsi, and the Om Beach near Gokarna will be developed into tourist spots under the ADB project.

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