Infra damage pegged at Rs 750 cr due to floods in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: As per an estimate prepared by the Dakshina Kannada district administration , the total infrastructure loss and damage caused due to floods in the district is Rs 750 crore.

This is in addition to the loss in the agriculture and horticulture sector, where the actual loss is yet to be estimated. The district has lost 1,229 hectares of agriculture land , including 357 hectares of paddy and 691 hectares of arecanut.

Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, while holding a review meeting as per the directions of chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday, said the government will sanction necessary funds for the rebuilding of flood-hit villages in the district.

At the meeting, deputy commissioner S Sasikanth Senthil said 1,415 km of roads and bridges were damaged due to heavy rain and floods in the district, and the loss is estimated at Rs 672 crore. Meanwhile, 424 government buildings, including 222 schools were damaged due to heavy rain and floods, and the loss incurred is estimated at Rs 55 crore. Mescom has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 11 crore, after several transformers, electric poles and supply lines were damaged due to rain. While 944 houses were damaged, 27 have been destroyed completely. The loss is estimated at Rs 11 crore, the DC said, adding that the loss estimate may vary as a final report is yet to be prepared.

The minor irrigation department officials said 88 out of 327 vented dams in the district were damaged due to collapse of a revetment . The loss due to the same is estimated at R 83 crore. On crop loss, the DC said as per guidelines, farmers are eligible to receive relief of Rs 6,800 per hectare in case of paddy, and Rs 18,000 per hectare for arecanut. However, there is a demand for the relief amount to be increased. A detailed report with actual loss and demands will be submitted to the government.

Bantwal MLA U Rajesh Naik brought to the notice of the minister, that though many shops were damaged due to floods in Bantwal and other parts of the district, those merchants are not eligible to receive compensation. The DC said the government has sought a separate report on losses incurred due to private buildings being damaged in the list. Officials will assess the damages and submit a report soon, he added.

Minister Poojary, lauding the efforts of officials, agencies and volunteers who were part of the rescue and rehabilitation operations, said that the government has no dearth of funds for relief work. “Respond to people’s problems by working unitedly. I will meet the chief minister along with MLAs and seek more funds for rebuilding villages that suffered losses due to flood,” he added.