CM Siddaramaiah urges PM Modi to grant 'national monument status' to Rani Chennamma’s samadhi
Bengaluru, Mar 29 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to declare the samadhi of Kittur Rani Chennamma—the queen of the former princely state of Kittur, who led an armed resistance against the British East India Company—a "monument of national importance" under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
Highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the samadhi located in Bailahongala taluk of Belagavi district, he stated in a letter to Modi that Rani Chennamma holds a unique place in India's history as one of the first women to lead an armed resistance against colonial rule.
Her valour and indomitable spirit continue to inspire generations across the nation, he added.
In the letter, Siddaramaiah emphasised that the samadhi of this iconic leader is not just a resting place but a sacred site symbolising the undying spirit of India's struggle for independence.
"It stands as a beacon of courage and sacrifice, reflecting the determination of a woman who defied the might of the British East India Company in 1824," he wrote.
He asserted that recognising this site as a "nationally important monument" under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, would be a significant step in preserving her legacy and honoring her contribution to the nation.
Siddaramaiah brought to the Prime Minister's attention that despite its immense historical significance, the site remains in need of proper conservation and development.
He stressed that such recognition would facilitate the necessary measures to safeguard the samadhi’s integrity, protecting it from "neglect and degradation".
"It would also bring greater visibility to the site, attracting visitors from across the country and beyond, thereby promoting cultural tourism and contributing to the socio-economic development of the region," he noted in the letter.
"More importantly, it would serve as a means to educate future generations about Rani Chennamma's unparalleled role in our freedom struggle and instill pride in our collective heritage."
The Chief Minister further stated that national recognition of Chennamma's samadhi would reinforce "Karnataka’s pride" while securing its rightful place in the annals of Indian history.
"I urge you to direct the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India to expedite the process of evaluating and declaring this sacred site a monument of national importance," he added.
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298 persons killed in Wayanad landslides: Govt tells Parliament
New Delhi (PTI): A total of 298 people were killed during the landslides that hit Kerala's Wayanad district last year, the government informed Parliament on Tuesday.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that while the Centre does not maintain a central data of deaths/missing persons due to disasters, including landslides, the Kerala government informed it that the total number of deaths due to the landslide in Wayanad was 298.
Out of these, 32 missing persons have been declared as deceased, the minister told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.
Asked about the compensation provided by the Centre to the state, Rai said that based on a report of the inter-ministerial central team (IMCT), the central government approved an amount of Rs 153.47 crore, subject to the adjustment of 50 per cent of balance available in the state disaster response fund account, for the landslides, flash flood of 2024.
The amount also includes assistance for the air bills for utilising the services of the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters for rescue and relief, as per actual, and actual expenditure for the clearance of debris, he said.
Besides, an amount of Rs 388 crore (Rs 291.20 crore central share plus Rs 96.80 crore state share) has been allocated to the Government of Kerala for the financial year 2024-25 in SDRF, he said.
The instalment of Rs 145.60 crore of the central share was released on July 31, 2024.
The second instalment of Rs 145.60 crore of the central share was also released on October 1, 2024 in advance to the state, the minister said.
He added that the Kerala Accountant General reported a balance of Rs 394.99 crore in its SDRF account as on April 1, 2024.
Thus, "sufficient fund" is available in the SDRF account of the state for relief operations, he said.
Rai said Kerala conducted a Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) estimating a total requirement of Rs 2,219 crore for recovery and reconstruction plan.
The landslides destroyed large tracts of three Wayanad villages--Punchirimattom, Chooralmala and Mundakkai--apart from some in Attamala when the disaster struck on July 30 last year.
