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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Parameshwara rules out internal differences in Congress in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Ruling out any internal differences in the ruling Congress in Karnataka, senior party leader and Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said there may be certain minor differences of opinion, but there are no major issues or confusions within.
He also said that his absence in Delhi where Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and several senior Ministers are camping and plan to meet party high command, is not because of any disgruntlement. Even though he agreed he was not invited to Karnataka Bhavan inauguration in Delhi, he said it is not too important to attend it.
"Where is the internal difference? I myself don't know. You (media) may be creating certain things and speaking. There is no difference among us. Congress is in power and we are running the administration and are implementing programmes," Parameshwara said.
Responding to a question whether there will be an end to internal differences in the Congress with the Chief Minister meeting party senior leader Rahul Gandhi and other central leaders in Delhi, he further said, "There may be minor difference of opinion, it will naturally be there, but it cannot be called an issue or confusion."
CM Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi early on Thursday.
The meeting is seen as a significant one in the backdrop of power tussle in the ruling Congress and speculations about the change in Chief Minister's post later this year. Shivakumar and Parameshwara are seen as the major contenders for the post.
Party sources said that issues like demand to replace Shivakumar from the post of state congress chief, honey-trap attempts as alleged by Minister K N Rajanna might have taken up for discussion as well.
Responding to a question on speculations within the party including the one about changing state Congress President, Parameshwara, who held the post in the past said, "Some want change, some want the same person to continue. It was the same thing when I held the post and when my first term ended, high command called all the state leaders and spoke to them, and then I was asked to continue."
Deputy CM Shivakumar is currently on an extension in the KPCC President post.
Asked whether his opinion has been sought by AICC regarding the developments in the state unit and nominations for vacant MLC posts, the Home Minister said, no one has sought any opinion and there has been no discussion in this regard.
"My opinion is not important, with the passage of time things keep changing. With the flow of fresh water, old water has to flow forward. You interpret however you want," he said when reporters tried to elicit his response on whether his opinion is being considered by the party while making decisions.
Parameshwara said he was not invited for the inauguration of the reconstructed Karnataka Bhavan building -1 'Cauvery' on Wednesday evening, but ruled out any disgruntlement.
Noting that he was the one who had laid the foundation for the Karnataka Bhavan, as the then Deputy Chief Minister, he said, "I don't know, no one has invited me. How to go to the event in Delhi without any invite? So I did not go..."
He however also said that he did not find the event to be that important for him to attend. "Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister were already there and I don't feel that I too should be there. I felt it was not necessary to attend."
Rejecting any difference with Shivakumar as the reason for skipping the event in Delhi and Siddaganga Math event in Tumakuru, he said, "I can even now go to his house immediately if needed. We don't have any such things, we are very good friends."
