Rs 26 crore rain relief sought for Dakshina Kannada

An estimate has been drawn on the loss of public property and a Rs 26-crore grant has been sought to compensate the victims, District In-charge U T Khader has said.

“The deputy commissioner is empowered to sanction up to Rs 15 lakh towards emergency relief works,” the minister added.

Khader was speaking to reporters after a district-level progress review meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office in Mangaluru on Thursday.

The minister said that nine lives have been lost to rain fury. Up to 148 houses have been damaged and 11 cattle have lost their lives, he added.

“A compensation of Rs 185.52 lakh has been distributed to the citizens who were at the receiving end of the hazard. Citizens have been recompensed with an additional Rs 1.95 lakh for the damage of houses and death of cattle,” said Khader.

Stating that there has been 40% more rain than normal in Dakshina Kannada in the current season, Khader added a request has been placed before the state government to release a grant of Rs 26 crore towards the restoration of public property such as roads, bridges and other amenities.

The minister directed the block education officers in the district to implement measures to carry out minor repair work on schools whose buildings have been damaged in their respective areas.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Dr M R Ravi said that 86% achievement is done to provide drinking water facility under the Ministry of Rural Development.

“There are 5473 old age pensions, 43600 widow pensions that are being distributed to the deserving. In addition, 27 transgenders and 18,151 handicapped are being benefited by the government schemes. The district has marked 85% achievement in the implementation of 94C and 94CC,” added the ZP officer.