Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Rejects Kasturi Rangan Report, Reviews Flood Damage in Madikeri
Madikeri (Karnataka) [India], August 2: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced on Friday that the state government has decided to reject the Kasturi Rangan report on the conservation of the Western Ghats. However, he mentioned that a final decision will be made after further discussions with Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre.
Siddaramaiah made this statement during a press meeting after inspecting landslide and flood-affected areas. He noted that Rs 746 crores are available in the state, with Rs 46 crores in the Kodagu DC’s PD account, and additional funds will be provided if necessary.
Due to continuous rain, repairing landslide areas has been challenging. Landslides have occurred in 20 places, with smaller landslides in many other locations. Fortunately, there have been no casualties, though many people are injured. A total of 67 houses have been completely destroyed, and 176 houses have been partially damaged. Compensation of Rs 1.20 lakh will be provided for completely destroyed houses, and Rs 50,000 for partially damaged houses, with Rs 43,000 coming from state government funds. Funds have already been transferred directly to the victims’ accounts.
Additionally, 16 cattle have died, and compensation of Rs 35,000 each has been provided. Fourteen relief camps have been opened, housing 186 people in 10 of these camps. Horticultural crops on 28 hectares have been damaged, and a joint survey by the Coffee Board and the Revenue Department has been directed.
Out of 2,708 fallen electric poles, all except 150 have been restored, and 47 damaged transformers have been reinstalled. Public and district panchayat roads spanning 344 km have been damaged, and repair work on these roads is being prioritized. The region has received 50% more rainfall than usual this time.
Precautionary measures and immediate relief work are being carried out. Clear instructions have been given to complete the landslide repair work of the Deputy Commissioner’s office by December. Siddaramaiah also mentioned that he will visit Shiradi Ghat to inspect the calamities and will make a decision after reviewing the GSI report for a permanent solution to the landslide areas.
District In-charge Minister Bosaraju, MLAs Ponnanna, Manthar Gowda, former Minister Nanaiah, and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh were present at the meeting.
Doubts Revealed
Karnataka CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister. The Chief Minister is the head of the government in the state of Karnataka, which is a region in India.
Siddaramaiah -: Siddaramaiah is the name of the current Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is a politician who leads the state government.
Kasturi Rangan report -: The Kasturi Rangan report is a document about how to protect the Western Ghats, a mountain range in India. It suggests ways to conserve the environment there.
Western Ghats -: The Western Ghats are a long mountain range in India, known for their rich biodiversity and unique wildlife.
Madikeri -: Madikeri is a town in Karnataka, India. It is known for its beautiful hills and coffee plantations.
compensation -: Compensation means giving money or help to people who have lost something, like their homes or animals, because of a disaster.
Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre -: Eshwar Khandre is a politician who is responsible for looking after forests and wildlife in Karnataka. He works with the Chief Minister.
