Udupi: District In-Charge Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged officials to take flood relief and Covid-19 control works as a challenge.

Bommai, chairing a meeting in DC’s  Office on Wednesday, said a team of volunteers, along with officials at the gram panchayat level, should be trained in disaster management. The committees at panchayat level should be monitored by Taluk Panchayat executive officer and deputy secretary at district level. A report should be prepared daily on the management of the disaster, he added.

The geographical area of panchayats varies from place to place. An action plan should be prepared according to the geographical area to ensure minimum loss of lives and damage to property during natural calamities, he said.

Of late, the gusty wind has been taking a toll. Agriculture and horticulture crops have been damaged in a vast area. A joint survey by village accountant, Panchayat development officer and officials from Horticulture and Agriculture departments should be conducted to assess damages and compensation should be paid as per NDRF guidelines, the Minister added.

Bommai said that sea erosion had occurred on 2,115 metres of coast and the loss was estimated at Rs 18.95 crore.

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat drew the attention of the Minister to delay in the release of installments for construction of houses of those who had lost their houses due to rain. He also appealed to the minister to upgrade the district hospital in Udupi.

Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar appealed on paying compensation for damaged houses that were yet to be regularised under 94C of Land Revenue Act.

The Minister said compensation should be paid if a house inside the plantation is damaged. The officials should identify land for the construction of rehabilitation centre to provide shelter to the natural calamity victims.

He also urged authorities to increase testing of Covid samples.