Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (NR)

Udupi, Jul 11: B Ramanath Rai, former minister and chief of the delegation appointed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said here on Tuesday July 10 that adequate relief had not been distributed to rain-affected people in Udupi district. He has been appointed specifically to study the relief measures in areas affected by rain and sea erosion.

B Ramanath Rai speaking to the media here, said the delegation led by him had visited most parts of Udupi district along with Congress leaders. Four persons, including two in Udupi taluk and one each in Kundapur and Karkala taluks had died owing to rains. He informed the press that around 700 houses had been damaged in the district.

When the delegation had earlier met the deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj, they had found that he was in the dark as to the full extent of the damage caused owing to rains. Rai stated that the district administration had estimated the loss on the basis of figures provided by the revenue department. The revenue department had pegged the loss at Rs 1.5 crore whereas the delegation had found out that the loss was over Rs 4 crore. So  Rai demanded that the district administration should henceforth collect figures from the departments of agriculture, horticulture, PWD and minor irrigation.

The compensation package to the kin of those who died owing to rain had been paid at the rate of Rs 50,000 per person, which according to Rai should be increased. He further added that delegation led by him would visit Uttara Kannada district on Wednesday, July 11 and submit a report on Saturday July 14.

Congress leaders Vinaykumar Sorake, Vasanth Salian, Gopal Bhandary, M A Gafoor, B N  Shankar Poojary, Bhujanga Shetty, Sarasu Bangera and Ivan D’Souza were all present on the occasion.