News and pics: Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Jul 8: Udupi district in charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj visited Gangolli Belikeri areas severely affected by sea erosion.

“The officials are asked to construct a permanent breakwall in areas likely to face sea erosion. The department officials are also directed to construct temporary breakwalls in areas which are already affected by it. Temporary walls will be constructed at Gangolli Belikeri and other affected places,” he said.

Byndoor MLA K Gopala Poojary drew the attention of the minister about the problems faced by residents of Gangolli Belekeri area saying that the people who have lived there for 30-40 years have not received title deeds. “It was not possible to provide justice to the people despite several campaigns. The people are deprived of basic facilities due to the absence of title deeds. CRZ is the cause for these problems. The problems should be solved and social justice should be granted to the people here,” he urged.

Minister Pramod Madhwaraj responding to the MLA said that 94C and 94CC applications should not be rejected without bringing to the notice of the MLA. “The revenue officials have been asked to consider applications of people staying in CRZ area. Those should not be rejected saying that there is no record of their stay for the last 30 to 40 years. Attempts should be made to grant them justice. If there are more than 25 year old coconut trees, the deputy commissioner and the assistant commissioner should respond to their problems considering that they are fishermen,” he said.

He also visited Maravanthe port and conducted an inspection. He said that he has come to know of the increasing amount of sea erosion. “I have already spoken to the PWD minister and port authority who have assured of release of funds for the purpose. I have met the concerned officials in order to submit a report which will be sent to Bengaluru before Friday evening July 8,” he said.

Meanwhile a cheque worth Rs 95 thousand was handed over to Laxmi who has lost her house due to natural calamity. The victims of the calamities were also advised to submit applications for new house under fishermen's programme. The minister later visited Ramamandira in Navunda Hosahitlu. The minister and MLA were felicitated on behalf of Rama Bhajana mandira. After watching sea erosion there, the minister went to Kirimanjeshwar sea erosion affected area.

Udupi additional deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis, Kundapur assistant commissioner Ashwathi, Kundapur additional tahsildar Kiran Gourayya, ports and fisheries department executive engineer Rathod, assistant executive engineer Nagaraj, ports department engineer Vijayakumar Shetty, Taluk panchayat member Raju Devadiga, former zilla panchayat president Raju Poojary, Malyadi Shivarama Shetty, Ramesha Ganiga Kolluru, Raghurama Shetty, Vasudeva Yadial, Gangolli grama panchayat members, local residents, grama village accountant Raghavendra Devadiga, Laxmi, Dinesh and others were present.