Rains recede, but many areas still under water in Kodagu

Holiday for anganwadis, schools and colleges in Kodagu today

As a precautionary measure, the district administration has extended holidays to anganwadis, schools and colleges on Monday (July 20) too.

Meanwhile, Assembly Deputy Speaker K G Bopaiah and MLC S G Medappa visited various flood-affected areas in Madikeri taluk on Sunday.

They visited Udatmotte near Bettageri and Kopatti near Bhagamandala which have been severely affected by heavy rains. They examined a road at Kopatti that had been damaged when storm water sprung from the very midst of the road. However, the Public Works Department repaired the damaged part.

Fertilisers spoiled

Bopaiah and Medappa also paid a visit to a gruel centre opened at Cheriyaparambu.

They examined the spoiled fertiliser stock at the warehouse of Vyavasaya Seva Sahakari Niyamita (VSSN) at Kakkabbe. About 2,500 bags of fertiliser worth Rs 7 lakh had been affected from flood water. Bopaiah asked the officials concerned to submit a report in this regard.

They also visited one more gruel centre near Balamuri bridge and listened to the woes of the inmates. Bopaiah assured the flood victims of providing permanent solutions to their problems.

‘Rs 100 crore loss’

Talking to reporters later, the Deputy Speaker said the extent of damages is huge in the district this year. According to my estimation, the district has incurred a loss of about Rs 100 crore. “The State government has released Rs 5 crore to the district under Natural Calamity Relief Fund.

All the three MLAs of the district would urge the government to release an additional Rs 10 crore towards the purpose,” he said.

“Several houses in the low-lying areas have been affected by the storm water. Farmers too have incurred huge losses as their paddy fields have been damaged. Such a loss had been experienced about 45 years back. The district administration is responding well to the rain woes,” he said.

Zilla Panchayat Education Standing Committee Chairman Manumuttappa, Taluk BJP President Bellu Somaiah and General Secretary Ravi Basappa were present.