2,336 houses damaged in DK, Udupi, relief works on war footing in Kodagu: Deshpande
Three villages in Kodagu witnessed maximum damage, 825 people rescued, two bodies found
Mangaluru, August 19: Total 2,336 houses were completely damaged in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. But the exact loss of property was not yet ascertained in Kodagu district due to rain-related incidents. Rescue operations were still going on in a war-footing level in the district, said Revenue Minister RV Deshpande.
After visiting the flood affected, landsliding areas and gruel centres and rehabilitation centres here on Sunday, the Minister said that in Dakshina Kannada district, total 1,326 houses were damaged in the rain, of which 299 houses were completely damaged and remaining houses were partially damaged. In Udupi district, 1,010 houses were damaged. In Kodagu district, thousands of houses were damaged. But actual figure was not yet ascertained, he said.
Rescue operation on war footing
Landsliding were occurred in three places like Jodupala, Monnangeri and Madenadu villages in Kodagu district. So far, 828 people were rescued and 825 people were in the rehabilitation centres. All concerned authorities and officers were strictly directed to look after the victims without any problem at the rehabilitation centres till the situation would come under control, he said.
In Dakshina Kannada district, total seven rehabilitation centres were opened for the victims. The government would get the report from the experts on the sudden landslides and other damages in Kodagu district. So far, the government has not received the expert opinion for the landsliding. But he was of the opinion that both man-made and natural aspects were the main reasons for this tragedy, he said.
The state government has already released Rs 100 crore for taking up immediate relief measures in the Kodagu district. Apart from this, the government has also released Rs 50 crore each to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for the purpose. For those who died in the natural disaster in Kodagu, the government has given Rs 5 lakh each compensation and two more people were missing, he said.
Dakshina Kannada district minister UT Khader, former minister B Ramanath Rai, former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty, MLA Harish Kumar and others were present.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
