Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Aug 21: District in-charge and state home minister, Basavaraj Bommai, instructed the officials to conduct proper spot inspections in respect of damages to houses and crops caused by natural calamity, and to arrange for compensation, duly and accurately assessing the losses.
He held a video conference with the officials at the office of the deputy commissioner here about the law and order situation in the district, steps being taken to regulate the spread of coronavirus, handling of flood situation as well as rescue and relief measures undertaken.
"On account of excessive rainfall, both agricultural and horticultural crops in the district have suffered losses. The survey about losses should be properly conducted at the preliminary level and compensation should be disbursed. Wherever the assessment is not made properly, there is the possibility of the farmers facing reduced crops and facing huge losses. The officials should take care to ensure that such things do not happen," Bommai advised.
Noting that lot of rain-related losses have occurred in 68 villages across the district, he asked village accountant and officials of agriculture and horticulture departments to conduct joint surveys to assess crop losses. He pointed out that due to excessive rains in the Western Ghats, rivers have flooded. This has caused erosion of earth in the riverbeds and loss of agricultural land on both sides of the streams and rivulets which drained away excessive water. The loss on account of sea erosion should also be taken into account to properly and accurately assess the losses by conducting surveys in an efficient manner, he advised.
The minister advised the panchayat development officers and village accountants to estimate losses properly and take into account dilapidated houses when conducting survey. He urged them to base their assessment on standard assessment procedures and humanitarian values. He asked tahsildars and sub-divisional officers to monitor this work. He also asked the officials to conduct verification of the spots in detail, and in addition to collecting information in the prescribed formats, to take snapshots of the area in different angles and obtain signatures of the house owners.
On the coronavirus front, he noted that the district has of late been witnessing a spurt in the number of cases along with increased deaths. In addition to taking all precautionary measures, he asked officials to ensure that the infected persons get the best treatment. He advised the officials to make it doubly sure that corona infected persons do not face dearth of beds. He also wanted them to see that oxygen stock needed for emergency COVID treatment is not in short supply and to see that enough quantity is supplied by the suppliers on a regular basis. He also promised to see that the government releases grants to disburse pay and other allowances to the doctors and other staff who have been outsourced for COVID treatment.
Bommai, who obtained information from the agricultural officials about the sowing situation and stock of chemical fertilisers, advised them to see that the farmers get the urea fertiliser to the extent of their need.
The minister advised the Coast Guard police force and fire brigade to work in association with the district administration to undertake rescue and relief measures relating to natural disasters and floods.
Additional deputy commissioner Sadashiva Prabhu, district superintendent of police Vishnuvardhan, zilla panchayat deputy secretary Kiran Padnekar, sub-divisional officer Raju, and other officials were present.