This story is from May 20, 2019

Flood and landslide-ravaged Kodagu awaits better times

Soon after floods and landslides destroyed happy homes and swathes of coffee estates in Kodagu last year, ideas poured in for relief and rehabilitation of the affected, but implementation barely matched the pace at which suggestions flowed in. Those affected did receive immediate relief, but almost a year on, survivors feel the reconstruction process has been distressingly slow.
Flood and landslide-ravaged Kodagu awaits better times
A road in Kodagu, that was wiped out in a landslide in August last year, has been restored
BENGALURU: Soon after floods and landslides destroyed happy homes and swathes of coffee estates in Kodagu last year, ideas poured in for relief and rehabilitation of the affected, but implementation barely matched the pace at which suggestions flowed in. Those affected did receive immediate relief, but almost a year on, survivors feel the reconstruction process has been distressingly slow.
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It has been nine months since Kodagu was ravaged by floods and landslides.
Twenty people were killed and a staggering 3,000 displaced. Landslides and floods destroyed crops of nearly 33,548 farmers besides public infrastructure like roads and bridges. Those whose houses were completely destroyed are still living in rented houses.
While the government believes the pace of rehabilitation measures is on track, figures tell their own story. The Kodagu district administration estimates that about 836 houses were destroyed — of which 427 were completely wiped out. Now, only about 35 newly constructed houses are nearing completion in three places — Jambooru, Karnangeri and Made.
“We have suffered a lot this past year,” say some victims of the landslides. “If at first it was the grief of losing relatives and friends, later it was the difficulty in sustaining ourselves with the paltry relief the administration provided.”
Officials say permanent resettlement will take a few more months. However, where the government has failed, NGOs have stepped in. For instance, the Infosys Foundation, which promised to build 200 houses in Jambooru, has just commenced work and it is expected to finish much before the government completes its housing projects.

The state government is building 2BHK houses at a cost of Rs 9.8 lakh on 30x40ft plots. Of the total 770 families who are eligible for a house, 43 have sought cash to build their own houses and the government has agreed to release funds in four equated installments.
Last year’s disaster razed about 3,000 acres of coffee estates mainly in about 15 villages of Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks. Around 200 coffee planters who have been in the business for generations have been hit hard. They are still awaiting land in lieu of property lost.
“Ministers and local public representatives promised us land besides monetary compensation for the crop we lost,” said a plantation owner, who lost his eight acres due to landslides. “They had also told us that they would ensure the government allots us ‘paisari’ land (waste revenue land located in different parts of Kodagu) as compensation. But nothing has happened and we are slowly losing hope. The estates were our bread and butter.”
In the aftermath of the calamity, the government provided very little in the way of monetary compensation for crops lost. It ranged from Rs 1,000 to a maximum Rs 75,000 — cash that was deposited directly into accounts of farmers and planters. The Kodagu district administration says a total Rs 33 crore was paid as compensation to 33,548 farmers/planters.
What did come in handy though for some survivors was the Rs 3,800 the government paid to those staying in relief camps for nearly two months after the calamity. The government has also been promptly paying house rent of Rs 10,000 to all those who lost their houses in the floods and landslides. This compensation will continue till they are allotted houses.
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