Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 24: To enable the district administration to undertake relief works to address damages let loose by heavy rain experienced by the district last month, the state government has released a special grant of Rs 21 crore.

The district administration had recently requested the state government to release Rs 40 crore immediately to be able to undertake emergency flood relief works. In response to the request, the government has released Rs 21 crore in two phases, deputy commissioner (DC) G Jagadeesha, stated.

As many as 4,000 houses in the district had been damaged due to rain and flood. By using the special grant, Rs 10,000 each will be provided to them as immediate compensation. An amount of Rs four crore would be needed for this. Over 600 houses have been damaged in the district. If the entire houses had collapsed, Rs five lac under the Vasati scheme will be released to enable them to construct new houses, he revealed.

The DC stated that in case of houses that have suffered extensive damages, amount up to Rs three lac would be disbursed towards repairs and in case of minor damages, there is provision to provide compensation up to Rs 50,000. The grant will also be used to repair schools, Anganwadi buildings and potholes in the roads, he stated.

Jagadeesha mentioned that the district received 4,485 mm rainfall from June to September, this year which is 14 percent more than normal. Due to heavy rain received in September, 77 villages from Udupi, Kaup, Karkala and Brahmavar taluks had been covered by water. Water had entered 4,000 houses. Household items were completely destroyed in many cases, and agricultural as well as horticultural crops had been destroyed. Roads and bridges had fallen down and the district administration is preparing to disburse compensation to affected people as per government guidelines.