The Kodagu district administration has been directed to be cautious of possible landslips during the monsoon season this year and take precautionary measures to mitigate its impact.
At a review meeting in Madikeri on Friday, the Principal Secretary to the Government Rajkumar Khatri took stock of the ground situation in the district following last year’s natural calamity, the measures initiated by the district administration and relief efforts, etc., and asked officials to be pro-active in mitigating the impact of possible floods and landslips. The officials were told to focus on areas prone to landslips as part of their preparations.
Mr. Khatri said though the monsoons were nearly a month away, the various teams constituted for rescue and relief should start coordinating their efforts and brace for any eventuality.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kodagu Annies Kanmani Joy presented an overview of the crop loss suffered by farmers in the district and pointed out that 33,548 farmers had incurred loss and the details pertaining to the losses were recorded by the authorities. As on date, ₹32.76 crore has been disbursed and credited to their individual accounts, she added.
With regard to infrastructure damage and repairs undertaken by the government, the Principal Secretary was informed that the Department of Public Works had taken up 52 major works in the district, the Department of Panchayat Raj and Development had taken up 176, while CESC and other departments had take up 821 works which were completed after last year’s calamity. Besides, 251 infrastructure repair and upgradation works were taken up and completed under special grants released by the government.
Rehabilitation
The review meeting also focussed on rehabilitation of people who had lost their property during the landslips and floods last year.
The DC said that 427 people affected by the natural calamity would be rehabiltated with housing in the first phase and 427 families in the second phase. The construction of houses were in progress at Karnamgeri, Biligeri, Gaalibedu, Madde, Jamburu villages and basic amenities had to be extended which would be completed in due course, she added.
Rain prospects
Srinivas Reddy, director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), allayed fears over a repeat of last year’s calamity as reported in a section of the media. He said the KSNDMC had installed telemetric rain gauges across the district and it was possible to ferret information every 15 minutes which enables them to make forecasts 8 to 10 days in advance.
K. Mohan, District Health and Family Welfare Officer, said five teams have already been constituted at the district level to coordinate all health-related works that need to be rolled out in the event of flood and hospitals and the public health centres were flush with stock of essential medicines. Officials visited a few villages affected by landslips last year.