CM Kumaraswamy lays foundation stone for building houses
Rehabilitation for Kodagu distressed people
Targets to construct 55 houses per month
#840 families to get houses
#Rs 9.85 lakh for each house
Madikeri, December 7: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar laid foundation stone for constructing houses to rehabilitate the affected people in Kodagu natural disaster, at Jambur village in Somwarpet taluk in the district on Friday.
The district administration has organized the foundation laying programme at Jambur village. After laying the foundation, CM Kumaraswamy said that “There were plenty of expectations from the people. But though it was not possible to fulfill all the expectations, the government has honestly responded to the problem.
The Chief Minister’s Fund has Rs 202.23 crore including Rs 100 crore from State Government Employees Association and this amount would be spent for the rehabilitation work. In order to help the affected people, people of the state have responded and cooperated in their own way, he said while thanking all of them.
Keeping aside the NDRF and SDRF norms, the government has given compensation up to Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 for those who lost household things.
In order to construct model houses for the first time in the country, the government has decided to spend Rs 10 lakh for each house, he said.
Out of Rs 546 crore given by the central government, the state government has disbursed the amount to 8 districts including Kodagu which were affected in the natural disaster. As declared earlier, the government has established Kodagu Reconstruction Authority. In the beginning, it was announced to give Rs 100 crore. So, the government has released Rs 85 crore for various departments to take up the relief works, he said.
The government has already waived off loans up to Rs 2 lakh from nationalized banks and Rs 1 lakh in cooperative banks. But the farmers should not dishearten for any problems, he appealed.
The government employees have appealed to cancel the new pension scheme and reintroduce the old pension scheme. He would respect their demand. A committee would be constituted to look into the pros and cons of this demand and placed before the Cabinet to take a decision, he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar said that the government would give all support for the development of Kodagu. There was no need to worry about it. Already, the government has constituted Kodagu Reconstruction Authority for the development and the centre has to release more funds, he added.
Housing Minister UT Khader said that the government was always ready to wipe the tears of Kodagu people. With a good intention of constructing good houses, the government was spending Rs 9.85 lakh for each house and it was targeted to construct 55 houses in one month, he added.
District Minister S.R. Mahesh said that the government has taken all steps for reconstruction of Kodagu district.
Lok Sabha Member Pratap Simha said that Rs 546 crore released by the centre was distributed to affected places. Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy would give Rs 25 crore for constructing houses and another organization has joined its hands with the government to construct houses, he said.
Rs 100 cr cheque given
State Government Employees Association president H.K. Ramu presented a cheque of Rs 100 crore from the association to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. A documentary of natural disaster prepared by the district administration was screened on the occasion. Symbolically, house selection letter was given to a beneficiary.
MLA MP Appachu Ranjan presided over the programme in which MLAs KG Bopaiah, Sunil Subramani, Veena Achaiah, SL Boje Gowda, V. Anbukumar, Mysuru Zone IGP Sharath Chandra, Suman D. Pannekar, and others were present.
Deputy Commissioner PI Srividya welcomed the gathering, while additional deputy commissioner Jagadeesh proposed vote of thanks. Madapura school students sung state anthem on the occasion.
Benefits to be given to affected people?
The government has taken various measures to rehabilitate the affected people and released funds. For temporary arrangements, the government has been giving Rs 10,000 rent per month for those who lost houses in the incident. Till the new houses are constructed, the government would give the house rent. For those who want to construct houses in their own land, the government would give Rs 15 lakh, said CM Kumaraswamy.
The Kodagu Reconstruction Authority has prepared various programmes for the rehabilitation of people. The government has taken all steps to ensure that Kodagu will come back to its previous condition. The entire amount donated to the Kodagu Rehabilitation Funds would be utilized for Kodagu only and it has been utilizing the funds effectively, he said.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
