Minister asks DC to conduct second review on rain havoc

Revenue Minister R V Deshpande asked the Deputy Commissioner to submit a report after conducting yet another review on the losses caused by heavy rain in the Chikkamagaluru district.

Chairing a review meeting on rain relief measures, at the Zilla Panchayat Hall on Wednesday, Deshpande directed the DC to submit an estimate of the loss incurred from the damage to roads, bridges, public assets and crop loss, following heavy rain.

“Necessary measures should be initiated towards compensating the losses,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner M K Srirangaiah informed the minister that the district has received 761 mm (158%) of rain from January. Malnad areas like Sringeri, Mudigere, Koppa and N R Pura have received maximum rain.

A proposal has been submitted to the government towards the provision of a grant of Rs 24.10 crore in order to compensate the loss caused by rain havoc, he said.

A total of 66 houses in the district have been damaged due to rain. Eight cattle have succumbed to death. Compensation has been provided to the victims. Crop loss has occurred in 11.32 acres of land and necessary measures have been undertaken to disburse the compensation.

Drinking water is being provided through tankers in 19 villages of Kadur taluk, affected by rain.

Sringeri MLA T D Rajegowda requested the minister to provide compensation to a farmer whose agricultural land was spoiled after the soil dumped by Highway Department accumulated in the field. The minister instructed the DC to look into the issue and do the needful.

Agriculture Department Joint Director Seetha said that the target has been set for transplantation of seeds in 1.50 lakh hectares of land in the district during the current monsoon season. Transplantation is 23% complete and 4,110 quintal seeds have been distributed to farmers.

MLC S L Bhojegowda alleged that the farmers have not been informed by the department, in advance, about the distribution of transplantation of seeds.

Horticulture Department officer Poornima said that there is a target to achieve the transplantation of horticultural crops in 17,000 hectares and 40.7% progress is achieved so far.

‘Remember Kempegowda’

Revenue Minister R V Deshpande said that the state government has issued an order on June 26, towards the formation of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Authority.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, the minister said that in 2017, the earlier state government took a decision to form an authority and ordered to observe Kempegowda Jayanthi.

“It is our bounden duty to recall the contributions of Kempegowda for the development of Bengaluru. The authority will take up projects towards preserving the heritage of Kempegowda, the architect of Bengaluru”.

Responding to a query, he refuted the allegation on the current government saying that it is not taking off. The Congress-JD(S) coalition government is strong and stable. It will complete five years, he said.

Clarifying that Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will present the budget on the scheduled date, Deshpande said that the programmes implemented by former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will not be scrapped. The Revenue Minister further said that a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) committee has been formed to include new agendas in the state budget. The committee is set to conduct the third round of the meeting on June 29, he added.