Permanent sea wall should be built across coastal districts: Bommai
Udupi: Udupi District In-charge Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday directed district administration to submit a proposal for Rs 100-crore special compensation package for sea erosion in the district to Centre.
Bommai, addressing officials during a review meeting organised at Zilla Panchayat office here, said state government had incurred a loss to the tune of Rs 90 cr due to Cyclones Tauktae, Yaas and other natural calamities. The sea erosion was witnessed up to a length of 9,115 mtrs. A permanent sea wall should be built across the coastal districts, he said.
The minister directed officials to release compensation to people who had lost their houses due to natural calamities. He said the district will receive 10,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine everyday and around 1.5 lakh vaccine doses per month. The vaccination drive in the district should be completed within four months. Students in colleges should be vaccinated by July-end, he added.
Bommai promised to discuss with chief minister on the issue of taking over Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdullah Women and Children hospital, with the latter expressing its inability to run the hospital. The hospital with 70 beds can be used to tackle the Covid-19 third wave. He said 50 ICU beds with ventilators should be set up in all district and taluk government hospitals to counter the third wave.
Hostels for students
The children from villages who come to cities in order to pursue higher studies need a conducive environment. The hostels being constructed by the government are providing such conducive environment for children, Bommai stressed on Monday.
He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating social welfare department’s post-matric hostel for girl students, built at a total cost of Rs 2 crore, in Karkala.
He said if a girl child is educated, a country’s prosperity doubles. “A girl plays a bigger role in the building of society,” he stressed.
Bommai said government has set goals to counter the Covid-19 virus threat. The children are being tested right from gram panchayat level. The children who are malnourished are identified and treated. Presently, government is determined to take measures to overcome malnutrition and lack of immunity among children.
The health camps are held in all schools. The drive will also help in detection of health issues among children. It is an attempt to take healthcare facilities to the doorstep of children, he added.
Food kits are offered by the Women and Child Welfare department in the district. Nutrition and vitamins are distributed by the health department.
“The vaccination drive for students, teachers and parents has been initiated. By next 45 days, the vaccination drive aims to cover all students,” he added.