Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 8: Revenue minister R Ashok instructed the officials to forcefully evacuate people from their houses with the help of police in flood-affected areas in case they neglect the warnings and instructions given. He spoke while chairing the review meeting pertaining to floods here at zilla panchayat office on Saturday, August 8.
He said, "Despite officials informing the occupants residing in flood-affected areas to evacuate, many a times they neglect the words of the officials and end up being in trouble during floods. In such cases, officials should complain to the police if required and by force, evacuate people from the houses which are located in flood prone areas."
He further said, "Officials should be generous in providing food for inmates at relief centres. Apart from rice and sambhar, they should provide other food items such as egg, pickle and also change the food menu every two days by consulting a dietician.
"Even if an inch of water enter houses, they must be provided a relief grant of Rs 10,000 without any hesitation. If any house is damaged due to falling of tree or electric pole or due to wind, they should be considered as flood victims," he added.
He instructed the officials to be alert in tackling floods and work effectively. “Precautionary measures must be taken before the situation goes out of control. Being aware of certain areas susceptible to floods, landslide and sea erosion, it should be ensured that precautionary measures are taken to avoid untoward incidents,” he said.
Noting several instances where people lost their lives doing adventures during floods such as taking selfies or performing stunts with their vehicles on submerged bridges, Ashok said that the police should be manned in such places. He further strictly instructed that cases should be booked against those performing adventurous stunts during the floods.
Deputy commissioner Dr K V Rajendra while speaking on the current situation of the district with regards to rains said, "There has been 90 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, among which Beltangady and Sullia have seen the highest rainfall in the district compared to other taluks. We have shifted 32 families to relief centres at Mitthabail from landslide prone areas."
Rashmi, tahsildar, who was also present at the meeting said that many areas in Bantwal have been affected as Netravati river crossed the danger level of 8.5 metre. Relief centres are kept ready for people in Bantwal who are residing in flood prone areas.
MLC Prathap Simha Nayak, raising the yearly impact of rains in the Charmadi Ghat suggested to come up with a permanent solution to avoid problems in the ghat areas.
District MLAs urged the minister to release sufficient funds to provide compensation to the farmers, reconstruct damaged roads, and construct break walls to tackle sea erosion in the district.
District in charge minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, superintendent of police Laxmi Prasad, DCP law and order Arunagshugiri, additional deputy commissioner Roopa, Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath, Mangaluru North MLA Dr Bharath Y Shetty, Puttur MLA Sanjeev Matandoor, Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik, Moodbidiri MLA Umanath Kotian and others were present for the meeting.