37 km road collapsed: No connection between Madikeri- Mangaluru
Madikeri, August 19: It seems the repair of roads in Kodagu district which was literally devastated by the rain fury may take months. The traffic movement between Madikeri and Mangaluru might take minimum one month to resume for light vehicles and heavy vehicles have to wait at least for another six months.
This would have long term consequences on the people of Kodagu who dependent on Mangaluru for education and healthcare and other activities. Mangaluru highway was damaged up to 37 km from Talattamane to Sampaje. PWD Minister HD Revanna said that the road repair works could be taken up only after the rain completely stopped.
As this road was completely blocked, traffic movement was allowed via alternative route Madikeri-Bhagamandala and Karike to Mangaluru. But it might take months to ply buses on Madikeri and Mangaluru highway, Revanna said.
Because of landslides, the Madikeri- Somwarpet road was also completely damaged and it would take minimum two months to repair it. Without the stoppage of rain completely, no repair works could be taken up in Kodagu district. So, the people have to wait till November to come back to normalcy, he said.
The Mangaluru-Hassan Milk Federation have supplied 30,000 litre milk, 5,000 biscuits, 200 quintal rice and tur dal, one thousand box drinking water to the flood victims. Cooking oil and cloths would also be supplied to the victims, he said.
274 km road damaged
Total 274 km road belonging to PWD was damaged in the district incurring a loss of Rs 139 crore. In the same way, 40 bridges were collapsed causing a damage of Rs 150 crore, said Revanna.
As of now, the department has opened two PWD sub-offices and one special office was opened in Madikeri, he added.
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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
