Forum decides to urge CM to fulfil demands of victims

Kodagu Prakruthika Vikopa Matthu Nere Santhrastara Samithi has decided to urge Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to fulfil the demands of the flood victims in the district.

At a meeting with the elected representatives on Saturday, Samithi president Manu Medappa said that the state government has failed to distribute compensation to the victims.

“A delegation will be taken to the chief minister to urge the government to fulfil the demands. Earlier, we had placed 12 demands before the chief minister during his visit to the district. There is a need to bring the woes of flood victims to the notice of the chief minister during his visit to the district during the week.

He said that out of Rs 546 crore released by the Central government, Rs 300 crore should be earmarked for the development of Kodagu district.

MLA Appacchu Ranjan said, “The need to set up Kodagu Reconstruction Authority, BPL cards for victims in six gram panchayats, development of roads and other issues were brought to the notice of the state government. Unfortunately, none of these demands have been fulfilled so far,” he lamented.

The MLA said that there are four to five associations fighting for the cause of the victims of the flood in the district. When the demands are the same, it is better to bring all the associations under one platform for the cause of the victims, he suggested.

Former MLC Medappa lamented that farmers loans are yet to be waived off in the district.

“The government had approved compensation for those who lost their houses. However, they are yet to decide on compensation for those victims who have lost their coffee estates and paddy fields. Those who eke out a living through farming are in distress,” he added.

At the meeting, it was also decided to urge the government to announce compensation for those who lost their land in the landslides and flood that ravaged Kodagu district.

MLC Veena Acchaiah said there is a need to collect opinions of all the victims and work for the development of Kodagu district by urging the state government to release additional grants.

“I am confident that the state government will respond to the woes of the farmers,” she added.