Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Oct 8: “The farmers have got very less relief funds from the government of just Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 per acre. It is miniscule compared to the amount of property and crops that they have lost. We will pressurize the government to increase the relief amount that is given to the farmers of the state,” said Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president of district BJP.
Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde further said, “Due to the Natural Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) norms and regulations, made by earlier UPA government, the Union government took little time to release funds to the state government. It is also thinking to liberalize the policy.”
Hegde was speaking at the press meet that was held at the BJP office in Kadiyali near here on Tuesday, October 8. Giving more information on flood relief, Hegde said, “The Union government has released Rs 1,200 crore as interim flood relief to the state. There is an expectation that the center will release Rs 3,000 crore in the next phase. PWD department has released Rs 500 crore for the construction of roads. Rs 25 crore has been released to Udupi district under NDRF.”
Regarding sand extraction, Mattaru said, “They have already extracted 10,000 tons of sand from the blocks. The demand is for four to five lac tonnes. Permit is given to 120 permit holders and rest of the 28 people will get license in two to three days. Dayanand Suvarna and Guruprasad Shetty Katpadi are in the seven member committee, which is formed to monitor sand mining. In non-CRZ area, the sand extraction is likely to start from October 16.”
“Udupi has got Rs 16 crore for its tourism development with the support of the tourism minister. Out of which, Rs 8 crore has been released now. We will conduct Swacchatha campaign in the month of October by walking in the taluks of Karkala, Kundapur and Udupi as part of 150th celebration of Gandhi Jayanti,” added Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde.
Yashpal Suvarna, general secretary, Shiva Kumar Ambalpady, co-spokesperson Ravi Kanchan, Guruprasad Shetty, Sandhya Ramesh and Guruprasad Shetty were present.