1989 villages in 19 Karnataka districts identified as flood prone
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Saturday said it has identified 1,989 villages and over 51 lakh people in 19 districts as flood-prone, as it prepares to face the ongoing rainy season.
"In 19 districts, about 1,989 villages have been identified on a preliminary basis- as those likely to be affected by floods and 51,81,359 people have been identified for shifting if there are floods," Revenue Minister R Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Deputy Commissioners of 19 districts that were affected by floods last year, he said nodal officers have been identified at gram panchayat level for all 1,989 villages.
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"As a temporary arrangement for those who will be affected by floods 1,747 relief centers have been identified- they are schools, Anganwadi centers, community centers among others," he added.
In August 2019, Karnataka witnessed one of its worst natural calamities when heavy floods affected 103 taluks in 22 districts, killing more than 80 people and displacing nearly seven lakh people.
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Ashoka, who is also Vice Chairman of the State Disaster Management Authority, said the Met Department forecast is "normal or 10-15 percent above normal" rains this year, and in five districts- Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan- there are chances of deficit rains.
"So far there have been normal rains. August is crucial because last time too in August rains had peaked," he said.
Noting that excess rains locally and release of excess water from dams in neighboring Maharashtra, Kerala, and Goa cause floods in the state, he said Deputy Commissioners in the border districts concerned have been asked to maintain constant contact with their counterparts in those states.
"They will ensure that neighboring states inform us at least a week before releasing water from the dams there.
The sudden release of water last time from dams in neighboring states had created a problem and the High Court has also given directions in this regard," he added.
Ashoka said he has directed officials to construct permanent bathrooms, toilets, and drinking water facilities at relief centers so that they can be used by students and teachers, in case of schools, once the floods are over.
"A total of Rs 1,144 crore is available in the account of Deputy Commissioners of 19 districts...officials concerned have been directed to inspect bunds of lakes and to certify whether they are in good condition.
A task force will be constituted for proper coordination between departments," he said.
The Minister said NDRF and SDRF teams should hold regular meetings and update about it to the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, once in 15 days.
The Fire Department has been asked to perform a mock drill to send a message to people that the administration was prepared to handle any situation.
In areas in Udupi, Karwar, Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, and Hassan- that saw landslides last year, officials have been instructed to shift people to safer places immediately, he said.
Deputy Commissioners of districts have been permitted to purchase all required equipment and a material like machines, generators, pumps, among others, which would later be handed over to the fire department for maintenance.
Also for the first time, a 10 member committee, comprising locals, of which the village accountant will be secretary, is being set up at all flood-prone hamlets for micromanagement of things like shifting people, providing relief materials among others, he said.
The committee will be permanent in nature to address calamities in the future and they will be trained for this.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Ashoka said funds released to Karnataka to take preventive measures against natural disasters like rains and floods have been increased from Rs 108 crore to Rs 318 crore.
"The amount has reached us," he said.
He said, as part of the master plan, fully equipped multipurpose State Disaster Management centers with a medical facility, dormitory, kitchen, counseling room are being set up in flood-prone areas, for which money has been released at Yadgir, Raichur, Udupi, Karwar, Haveri, Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru districts.
"It may cost Rs 5 to 10 crore..during normal times it can be used for other purposes like training, among other things.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
