Udupi: The availability of sand will be hassle-free for all the people in the district, said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Speaking at a review meeting held at the Zilla Panchayat meeting hall here on Friday, September 7, the CM said that action would be taken against illegal sand mining and that a meeting with MLAs and top-level officials of the state would be held in order to sort out problems related to the same.
Speaking about the damage caused by the heavy rains in the district, HDK said that a preliminary report had estimated that the district had suffered a loss of around Rs 141 Crore. He added that Rs 18 Crore had already been released in this regard. Roads and bridges have been damaged very badly, 10 people have lost their lives and 1,232 houses have been damaged. More funds will be released at the earliest, he said.
Regarding the disbursement of ration cards, HDK directed that the cards be sent to the applicants at the earliest. In case, there is a shortage in manpower, contract workers are to be hired in order to ensure that ration cards reach the applicants soon, he added.
Speaking about the Health Card Project, he said that as people have been facing issues availing the benefits, it is allowed for them to produce BPL cards to avail the health insurance benefits.
With regard to the much talked about Brahmavar Sugar Factory, the CM said that if the farmers of the surrounding areas once again took up the cultivation of sugarcane, the government was ready to reestablish the factory.
When asked about the Shiroor Swami’s death case, he said that the investigations were still on and that further details could not be revealed. He asked that the people wait patiently like they did with the Gowri Lankesh’s murder for the truth to come out.
Among other things, HDK announced compensation to those fishermen who lost their boats due to the heavy rains, a launch of a multi-village drinking water project at a cost of Rs 70 Crore in four years, construction of a woman’s hostel in the city and the construction of 11000 houses for the Koraga community. He also announced that a report had been sought from a committee of scientists regarding the damage caused to the Western Ghats during the recent bout of heavy rains.
District In-charge Minister Dr. Jayamala, opposition leader Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, MLC Bhoje Gowda, MLC B M Farook , ZP President Dinkar Babu, ZP Vice President Sheela Shetty, all five MLAs, Forest Department Chief Secretary Sandeep Dave, State Chief Secretary Raman Shetty, CM’s Secretary Selva Kumar, DC Priyanka Mary Francis, SP Laxman Nimbargi and others were present.
