Take immediate measures to check sea erosion: KPCC team

Speaking to the media here at Congress Bhavan after visiting various flood and sea erosion affected areas in Udupi district, Allam Veerabhadrappa said that the Centre had released Rs 13 crore for taking up permanent sea wall construction project to the district during last year. But when the team visited the sea erosion affected areas, it found that several houses were under danger due to the erosion. The team through KPCC would soon submit a detailed report to both the Central and the State governments to take up immediate measures to have a permanent solution to this problem, he said.

He said that he learned that the total damage to the houses, roads and other property due to recent flood amounts to Rs 41 crore, during the discussion with the Deputy Commissioner of Udupi. But the team, during its visit, found that it was about Rs 70 to 80 crore. The relief of Rs 5 crore released by the State government was most insufficient. It should immediately release adequate funds so that the affected families could get proper relief, he demanded.

Veerabhadrappa also said that the present rate for crop damage extended by the Centre was very inadequate particularly in the coastal and Malnad districts and added that the State government should also take immediate steps to shift the people residing near the sea shore to the government land and that houses should be built for them. KPCC General Secretary Prem Kumar, Vittu Chengappa, Sadananda Poonja, Ganesh Ayanna and others were present.