Staff Correspondent
Rs. 6.5 crore already released to the district administration
M.N. Vidyashankar says people displaced by floods will be rehabilitated
He asks cardamom growers to give a representation
Madikeri: Kodagu district in-charge secretary M.N. Vidyashankar on Saturday said he would impress the State Government to release adequate relief to tide over the loss suffered in the district because of heavy rainfall.
The rain-induced loss in the district so far was estimated at Rs. 54 crore, Mr. Vidyashankar said. The State Government had released Rs. 6.5 crore and Rs. 5.5 crore was still with the Deputy Commissioner.
He would apprise the Government of the loss in Kodagu, especially roads, he told presspersons.
Mr. Vidyashankari visited rain-affected areas in Shantalli hobli of Somwarpet taluk, Bhagamandala, Karike, Kottamudi, Bolibane area, near Napoklu, Chamundeshwarinagar and Mangaladevinagar in Madikeri city limits.
Cardamom growers in Somwarpet urged Mr. Vidyashankar to provide them re-plantation subsidy for destruction of cardamom crop in rain. He said he would route a proposal to the Centre, through the State Government, if the growers submitted a proposal to him.
There was no shortage of government land in Kodagu district to accommodate people displaced by floods, he said. Lands had been identified as well.
People were asking for sites close to their present dwellings, but lands were away from the spots where they lived, he said. Similarly, Ashraya houses too could be built to accommodate them, he said. About hanging bridge at Nadnalli in Somwarpet taluk, Mr. Vidyashankar said the Public Works Department had prepared an estimate for the construction of a modern bridge across the Kumaradhara river after the monsoon.
Deputy Commissioner K.R. Niranjan was present.
Science centre
District incharge Minister Ramachandra Gowda would lay the foundation stone for the construction of a Regional Science Centre at Karnangeri, near here, on August 15, Mr. Vidyashankar said. The project would come up at a cost of Rs. 2.60. crore with the State Government and the Centre equally sharing the cost. An 2.40-acre plot had been identified for this, he said.
To a question, Mr. Vidyashankar said the Government had completed recruitment of medical officers and agriculture officers in the State. Vacancies in primary health centres would be filled up in Kodagu soon, he added.