Flood victims’ wait for sites, houses continues

Though the flood in River Cauvery ravaged the houses and rendered people shelterless a year ago, the district administration has failed to provide suitable rehabilitation facilities to the victims. The victims who lost their houses are in distress.

The flood in River Cauvery had inundated houses of those residing on the banks of the river at Bettadakadu, Kumbaragundi, Baradi, Guhya, Karadigodu and other surrounding villages in 2019.

Promise not fulfilled

As the houses were completely damaged, the government had arranged temporary relief centres for the victims. However, the promise of a site and a roof over there head has not been fulfilled, even after a year.

The victims had stayed in a relief centre at Nelyahudikeri for four months. The district administration had even identified eight acres of land at Abhyathmangala for the rehabilitation of the victims.

Though the district administration had sought permission from the government for felling the trees on the identified land, the trees have not been cleared so far.

With a few months left for the monsoon, the natural calamity victims are now worried over their future.

Without a proper roof over there heads, the victims have constructed a temporary shed, on the land where their houses had existed in the past.

The victims of Siddapura had urged the district administration to identify five acres of land at Kodagu Srirangapattana. However, the demands have not been fulfilled so far.

The state government had announced Rs 5,000 per month for the families affected by the natural calamity. More than 35 families in Siddapura and Nelyahudikeri have not received monthly rent as promised by the government so far. This has further aggravated the problem, said the victims.

M A Krishnappa, a natural calamity victim from Karadigodu, says, “The MLAs too had promised to purchase private land and hand it over to the victims. However, the district administration is not keen on disbursing sites to the victims.”

Harish K of Kakkattukadu says, “I lost my house in the flood in 2019. Initially, I was staying in a relief centre. The government had promised to pay a monthly rent of Rs 5,000. I have not received the amount so far. I am finding it difficult to eke out a living.”

Sujithkumar, a victim from Nelyahudikeri, says, “With the hope of being provided a site, we are still staying in a tent on the banks of the river.”

Santhrastara Horata Samithi convener P R Bharat says the district administration has not cleared the trees on the land identified for the victims. The rehabilitation process is moving at a snail’s pace.