Losses in Kodagu pegged at over ₹2,000 crore as Karnataka seeks technical help from Himachal

August 20, 2018 11:40 pm | Updated 11:40 pm IST - Bengaluru

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday.

Pegging the initial estimate of losses in the rain-affected areas of Kodagu to be between ₹2,000 crore and ₹3,000 crore, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday said the State was also reaching out to the Himachal Pradesh government, seeking technical help while rehabilitating families.

“The situation in Kodagu is under control. According to the preliminary assessment, the infrastructure loss in Kodagu is between ₹2,000 crore and ₹3,000 crore. They are mainly due to damage to roads, bridges and government properties,” he told presspersons.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that during conversations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, who had called him to express their solidarity in this time of crisis, he had conveyed that he would meet them after receiving the complete loss or damage assessment report. “The districts of Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, and Chikamagaluru have seen large-scale damage to commercial crops. We will collate thee details and submit a comprehensive report to the Centre,” he said.

He added that at present, the focus was on relief and rehabilitation work.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also said that since Himachal Pradesh witnesses landslips frequently, his government has reached out to that State and sought assistance in assessing and rehabilitating people affected by landslips in Kodagu. “The hill State faces landslips frequently. The government [of Himachal Pradesh] has responded to our request and will be sending three technical persons trained in handling landslips and earthquakes,” he said.

To build back better

In rebuilding the vast road network that has been destroyed in the rainfall, several Central agencies will assist the State under the concept of “build back better”.

The Border Road Organisation will send a team of engineers and army engineering task force to clear roads and restore them. A team of experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute, and a team headed by H.S.M. Prakash (former DDG, Geological Survey of India) have started geo-technical studies in the areas affected by landslips.

Experts from the Geological Survey of India, National Institute of Rock Mechanics, and Army Engineering Task Force will be involved in restoring critical road infrastructure, a government update said.

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