The district administration has demanded Rs. 5 crore from the State government to undo the damage caused by the Thursday’s flash floods caused by the swollen Netravati and the Kumaradhara.
Deputy Commissioner N. Prakash stated this at the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee meeting chaired by Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel here on Saturday.
According to official sources, the amount was being sought under the State Disaster Relief Fund. The total damage is estimated at over Rs. 10 crore. The district administration has sought release of Rs. 5 crore to take up repair of roads and bridges (Rs. 3 crore), providing compensation to people who have lost properties (Rs. 2 crore) and to compensate the death and injuries to cattle and human beings (Rs. 1 crore). At least four lives were lost and more than 500 houses were damaged in the flash floods. Several roads and bridges were damaged. The district administration will seek more funds in the future.
An official participating in the meeting said roads adding up to 332.3 km, 30 culverts and eight school and anganwadi buildings were damaged in the floods. The district administration requires Rs. 8 crore to restore them.
At the meeting, Mr. Prakash said the government would acquire two motorised inflatable boats equipped with life-saving jackets so that the marooned people could be rescued faster in the event of any future emergency. “If required, we will acquire more,” he said. Mr. Kateel earlier told the officials that people living on the river back should get an advance warning about release of water from dams. Mr. Prakash said this would be ensured in the future. It has been alleged that water discharge from dams caught people unawares leading to loss of property and lives on Thursday.
The MP expressed his displeasure over the delay in completion of the 72km Mani-Sampaje road widening work. Mr. Praksh said he would take up the matter with the Managing Director of Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd., which is implementing he project and ensure that at least the potholes were filled on the 31-km stretch that remained incomplete.
Officials reached the flood-ravaged area in Navoor near Bantwal a good 24 hours after people started complaining to them. Pointing this out at the meeting, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said the officials initially did not answer calls and when someone finally answered, the reply was “We are busy with flood relief work”. Mr. Kateel also said that the floods have muddied the wells and people are left with no water to drink. “People took me to task,” he said. But an official left Mr. Kateel perplexed when he said he was not aware of the death of a person from Harekala.
