Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Aug 21: “The state is without ministers when it is facing dreadful floods. The center also has not paid attention. The prime minister should have conducted aerial survey and announced compensation when the state was reeling under ferocious floods. But he has gone to Bhutan. Failure of the center to announce compensation even when BJP government is in power in the state is not fair,” criticized former minister, Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee flood damage assessment delegation president Ramanath Rai. He was speaking in a press conference held in Kundapur guest house. “When BJP government was in the state in the past and UPA government was at the centre, prime minister Manmohan Singh had conducted aerial survey and announced a compensation of two thousand crores. The compensation announced by current state government does not reach the needy. It should reach the people on time and permanent solution should be stressed,” he said.
“Congress party has formed a team to assess the destruction due to heavy rain, floods, damages to life and property. We will visit both the districts and submit our opinions. We have seen that the damage in Kota block limits was more than 30 lacs,” he said.
Delegation member, former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, asked if the announcement of the chief minister has no value as the compensation does not reach flood victims. “There should be compensation for loss of cattle and agriculture. The state government should prepare a compensation package in Coorg like last year. What are 25 MPs doing when the center is quiet regarding the rain fury? Don’t they have the responsibility to draw attention of the center and bring compensation,” he asked.
District Congress president Janardhan Kodavoor, Kundapur block Congress president Hariprasad Shetty, Kota Block president Shanker Kunder, party’s Malyadi Shivarama Shetty, Manigopal, Kishan Hegde, Devananda Shetty, Ismael Atrady, Vinod Crasta, Ichitartha Shetty, Vikas Hegde, Devaki Sannayya and others were present.
“BJP had the agenda of solving sand issue. Only BJP MLAs are in the district. The state has their government. Why is it they do not solve the sand issue? There should be detailed investigations into leakage of Ammonia in Devalkunda Fish mill. The industry should be closed, in case of failures,” he said.