'Rs 32.76 cr disbursed to disaster affected farmers'

A total compensation of Rs 32.76 crore has been disbursed to the farmers who have incurred a loss of crops during the natural disaster that hit Kodagu last year, said Revenue Department (Disaster Management) Principal Secretary Dr Rajkumar Khatri.

Addressing the media after a meeting held at the DC’s office in Madikeri on Friday, he said that 31,196 farmers who suffered crop losses have been provided with a compensation of Rs 30.80 crore. As many as 765 farmers who have lost their lands due to landslides have been provided with a compensation of Rs 1.75 crore and 351 farmers whose fields were filled with silt, were provided with a compensation amount of Rs 20.92 lakh.

“The affected farmers had applied for compensation, through the software. Distribution of compensation to some farmers had been pending for various reasons and the compensation will be credited to the bank accounts of these farmers shortly,” said Khatri.

He further said that the district-level officials will soon pay visits to the areas hit by the natural disaster to inspect the current status. Later, a report will be submitted on the same to the deputy commissioner, for further action.

“People should not pay heed to rumours and should rely only on the authorised information. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre has launched a mobile application, ‘Sidilu’, to avail necessary guidance during natural calamities. Necessary medicines are stocked at the district hospital and at primary health centres. Steps have been initiated to recruit additional doctors at public hospitals. The district administration is prepared to tackle difficult situations arising during monsoon.”

Awareness will be created by the district administration for people on the measures to be followed during a natural disaster. Mock drills will be conducted in the third week of May. CESC engineers have been directed to repair the transformers and the power lines damaged during heavy rains, he added.

Khatri meanwhile said that officials have been directed to complete pending work on the houses being constructed for the victims of the natural calamity, by the end of May.

NDRF personnel

Khatri said that a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will be stationed in Kodagu from the end of May, as a precautionary measure.

The team will halt in the district till the end of monsoon. In addition, a fire and emergency service unit, home guards and state disaster response team have been told to maintain alertness, he added.

He further stated that a 24x7 control room has been launched in the district. Those who need assistance may dial 1077. Farmers may avail information on recent weather conditions through ‘Varuna Mitra’ helpline. The state disaster response team will be sending updates to the district administration once every fortnight.

About 20 earth mover will be used to clear the mud if there are landslides on the highways. Places have been identified for relief centres, in case a natural calamity.
Lakes, canals and stormwater drains have been cleared of silt, to facilitate the flow of stormwater and sewage. It has been decided to build a protective wall behind the old private bus stand, where the landslides
occurred last year, he added.

‘Normal rain this year’

Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre Director Dr G S Srinivas Reddy said that there is no forecast of incessant rain in the district this year.

The upcoming monsoon season will witness normal rain. People need not panic, he said.

Warnings will be issued to people to move to safer locations if any sudden changes are noticed in the weather. Minute-to-minute information on the inflow and outflow of Harangi reservoir will be obtained by the monitoring centre this year.

Regional Commissioner Anil Kumar, IGP (Southern range) Umesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy, Superintendent of Police Dr Suman D Pennekar and Zilla Panchayat CEO K Lakshmi Priya were present.