Mangalore: Rs 1.74 Cr Collected for Flood-relief Measures

Pics: Sphoorty Ullal
News Source: The Hindu

Mangalore, Oct 9: The Dakshina Kannada district administration has collected Rs. 1.74 crore for relief works in the flood-ravaged districts in north Karnataka.

Speaking to presspersons after the “padayatra” at various places here on Thursday, J. Krishna Palemar, Minister in charge of the district, said that the day’s collection was Rs. 27.54 lakh, including cheques worth Rs. 20.37.

The “padayatras” in taluks had realised Rs. 10.46 lakh, he added.

While Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. had donated Rs. 50 lakh, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mangalore Special Economic Zone Ltd., and Bharat Beedis had contributed Rs. 5 lakh each, Mr. Palemar said.

Donors and organisations were still sending cheques for the relief fund at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The Durgaparameshwari temple at Kateeel had agreed to donate 7,000 saris, he said.

Mayor M. Shankar Bhat said that Mangalore City Corporation would donate Rs. 15 lakh. A cloth merchant at the central market on Thursday donated 500 saris.

The Minister said that Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. had sent Rs. 50 lakh to the Government. The padayatra had evoked good response from the people. Recalling certain instances that had touched his heart during the padayatra, the Minister that a student at the bus stand donated Rs. 10, which was all he had in his pocket. But the Minister was told by the people around that the student had no money left to buy the ticket home.

Moved by his plight, the Minister returned the money to him.

In the fish market, a woman who had not sold anything donated a few coins she had with her. A few autorickshaw drivers stopped their vehicles on their own and donated for the flood relief, the Minister said.

The district administration would explore the possibilities of re-building a village by holding discussions with builders and other organisations here. If there was cooperation by everyone, one or more villages could be rebuilt, he said.

Appeal

Appealing to the people to come forward and work as volunteers in the rehabilitation process, he said people could themselves build houses for the poor in the flood-affected villages. A house could be built at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 lakh, he said.

V. Ponnuraj, Deputy Commissioner, said that many corporate institutions in the district were yet to contribute for the relief fund.

Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, N. Yogish Bhat, MLA, and A.S. Rao, Superintendent of Police, were present.

Earlier, the nursing students, senior officials of the district administration, and political leaders took out “padayatras” in different parts of the city and collected funds.