Rs 115 cr released to Kodagu: Minister SR Mahesh
Relief and rehabilitation works
Madikeri, August 29: District Minister SR Mahesh said that the state government has so far released total Rs 115 crore to take up relief works in the ravaged district.
Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, the Minister said that in the first phase, Rs 5 crore was released and in the second phase Rs 20 crore and in the third phase, the government has released Rs 85 crore. Now, following the direction from the Chief Minister, he was releasing Rs 25 crore from Tourism department. For all the 1,736 flood-affected people, Rs 3,800 each was given to them. So far, 16 persons died in the flood-related incidents and compensation was issued to the family members of 14 people, he said.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of the district minister opined that the houses should be constructed for the affected people near their places. Special additional deputy commissioner Jagadeesh said that in order to put up temporary sheds for the victims, the district administration has identified 7 acres of land near Garagandur, 4.80 acre of land near RTO office and 3.70 acre of land near Biligeri. There is a land belonging to the Horticulture department and sheds could also be put up temporarily, he said.
MLA KG Bopaiah advised the district administration to construct the houses for the affected people in their places. Most of the affected people had own houses constructed at a cost of minimum Rs 40-50 lakhs and those would not come forward to live in sheds. So, they should be given at least 10 cents of land, he said.
Minister Mahesh said that among affected people, there were people who were living in line houses and there were others who were living in good houses. So, such people would be identified and houses would be constructed in their respective gram panchayat limits, he said.
Because of the floods and landslides, there was huge damage in six gram panchayat limits and all the families in those gram panchayats should be distributed food kits through fair price shops without leaving scope for any misappropriation or lapses, the minister directed to Food and Civil Supplies department deputy director.
Deputy Commissioner PI Srividya said that total 2,108 km rural roads were damaged due to flood. The children of the affected families should be admitted to the nearby schools and distribute the textbooks and notebooks and uniforms, she directed DDPI.
MLA MP Appachu Ranjan said that a hostel should be started at Hattihole. He also directed the KSRTC officials to issue bus passes to those who have lost their passes in the incident and asked the KSRTC to run minibuses immediately to Hattihole, Surlabi, Garvale, Shantalli and other routes.
The Minister said that as there was a chance to spread contagious diseases due to flood situation, the authorities should take care to contain any such diseases. Health and family welfare department officials should take precautions, he said.
MLCs Sunil Subramani, Veena Achhaiah, district secretary Anbu Kumar, SP Suman D Pannekar, ZP CEO Prashanth Kumar Mishra, Dr Richard Vincent D’Souza, Charulata Somal and others were present at the meeting.
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“Full prepared..going to win,” Congress MP KC Venugopal ahead of Kerala polls
EC not functioning as a neutral institution: Venugopal
Congress MP K. C. Venugopal on Monday raised concerns over the election schedule announced by the Election Commission of India for the upcoming Kerala Assembly election, questioning the timing of the poll dates and alleging that the schedule leaves limited time for campaigning.
Speaking to news agency ANI in Delhi after the poll panel announced elections in five states and Union Territories, Venugopal said that the Congress and the United Democratic Front (UDF) are fully prepared for the elections and confident of victory. At the same time, he questioned the pattern of dates announced by the Election Commission.
“We are fully prepared, we are going to win the elections... You can see how the Election Commission has set the dates. The first phase of elections is on the 9th, nominations are due until the 23rd, scrutiny is on the 24th, nominations can be withdrawn until the 26th, and after that, there are 11 days for campaigning,” he said.
“As for Kerala, there is Easter and Good Friday in the first week...The Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier... The counting date is on May 4th, so what was the point of holding elections in Kerala so early? What is their intention behind holding elections on the same day in Kerala, Puducherry, and Assam?... We are confident that we will win, but the people of the country are seeing the biased attitude of the Election Commission...,” he added.
He further stated that his party was ready for elections irrespective of the dates announced by the poll body.
“We are going to win the election. India's strategy has been set up. And we are all ready for winning this election. But one thing as far as declaring election, even though they are giving only for five days, we are going to win the election. We have no problem,” he said.
Detailing the poll schedule while questioning the time available for campaigning, he stated, “but you can see the pattern of date which the election commission announced. Yesterday they declared election, and today they notified us. The first phase of election on April 9th, filing of nomination will be over on the 23rd of this month, 24th scrutiny, 26th withdrawal of nomination. After 26, four plus seven, 11 days campaign.”
“As far as Kerala is concerned, April first week is a holy week. The holiday week means, Good Friday is there. Nobody will do anything on Good Friday. Easter is the big festival. These festivals are natural, you have to see that. Among the 11 days, working days, two, three days will go for holidays. Then hardly seven, eight days for campaigning in this election for candidates,” the Congress MP questioned.
The Congress leader said the Election Commission could have announced the dates earlier if there was a need for an early election schedule.
Questioning the urgency behind placing Kerala in the first phase of polling, he added that the counting date is much later.
“Which is the date of counting? Fourth May. Then what is the urgency of putting Kerala in the first phase without giving sufficient time for candidates? And putting Kerala, Puducherry, Assam together, what is the intention behind that?” Venugopal questioned.
He also alleged that the Election Commission was not functioning as a neutral institution.
“The Election commission is completely losing that capacity as a neutral player. You can see 14 of our prime minister's programs over and on the 15th they announce the election, 16th notification comes,” he said.
Venugopal further stated that such tactics would not affect the Congress’ prospects in the election.
“They think that this type of techniques and tactics, because of these techniques and tactics, UDF is going to lose, and Congress is going to lose. This is their complete dream only. This is not going to happen. We are very much confident at any cost, whether they are not giving any time also, we are going to win the election,” he said.
“But the people of India are watching this. The tricks of the election commission. To restrict the campaign, people of India are watching. This I want to bring into the notice of the nation. That's all,” Venugopal said.
The Election Commission of India on Sunday announced the schedule for the Kerala Assembly election. Polling in the state will be held in a single phase on April 9 while the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
