Rain recedes in Kodagu, gives boost to relief efforts

Madikeri: Rain receded on Sunday in Kodagu, which helped improve the flood situation, even as revenue minister R Ashoka toured the flood and landslide-hit hilly district and held discussions with the district administration.
He said the government is planning to establish a permanent rescue centre in Madikeri to handle floods and landslides in Kodagu district, given that it has become a regular feature during the monsoon, affecting thousands and impacting the economy at the tourist hub.
Ashoka visited Talacauvery, the ground zero of the natural calamities, along with district minister V Somanna and deputy commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy and superintendent of police Kshama Mishra. BJP MLA K G Bopaiah and other elected representatives were present.
With heavy rainfall subsiding, it has helped the rescuers to take up relief and rescue operations across the hilly terrain, while the flood situation improving, and water level receding in the Cauvery River.
“A video conference will be scheduled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, where the state government will present a detailed report on the flood situation in Karnataka. We will request for funds from the central government to handle the crisis,” said Ashoka.
Govt not releasing adequate compensation: DKS
KPCC chief D K Shivakumar asked elected representatives cutting across party lines to focus on the natural calamity, and asked the government to plan a permanent solution to prevent natural calamities in Kodagu. He visited Talacauvery and inspected the rescue efforts.
He alleged that the government was not releasing the compensation amount to the people affected by rain last year. “The state suffered losses to the tune of Rs 35,000 crore due to floods and landslides last year,while the government released Rs 1,800 crore, which was not properly distributed to the affected,” he alleged.
However, Kodagu district minister V Somanna refuted the allegation, and that the government had compensated the affected. He said Rs 7 lakh in ex gratia will be given to the family of the dead.
Search continues for missing priest and his family
The search operation to locate the missing family of a chief priest of a temple at Talacauvery continued for the second day on Sunday, but rescuers were unable to find them. The rescue operation led by NDRF and SDRF, was stopped at 2 pm, owing to a sudden downpour, even as a team from Madras Engineering Group (MEG) continued searching till 5 pm. The revenue minister said that he has asked the rescuers to step up their efforts, and promised additional men and machinery.