Priority for drought relief, no transfer of revenue department staff: Kagodu

Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa announced that there would be no transfer of officials of the Revenue, and Panchayat Raj departments as drought relief works have to be implemented till the monsoon season begins.

The minister told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday that action would be taken against deputy commissioners, divisional commissioners, tahsildars and officers of local bodies if they approach the government with a request for transfers. The priority should be to attend to drought relief works, he added.

Thimmappa said the failure of rains during the rabi season has led to crop losses of Rs 3,458 crore. A petition seeking funds for the relief works has been submitted to the Centre. In case the funds are not released in a week’s time, then one more petition would be submitted in Delhi, he added.

On Didalli tribals
Referring to the Didalli tribals issue in Kodagu district, the minister said each houseless tribal family would get a site of 1,200 sqft. The land has been identified in Madikeri, Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks. Diddalli area is in the forest limits. It is not possible to provide rehabilitation in that area. Some tribals are ready to move out of the place. But some are not ready due to political conspiracy. Efforts are on to convince the tribals to move out of the place where they are residing, he added.

Thimmappa said directions have been issued to take action against the deputy commissioner of Uttara Kannada district who had raised unnecessary objections to sanction land to those who are into cultivating on Bagair Hukum land.