Kageri asks officials to be ready tackle rain fury

Karwar: Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri directed the officials of different government departments to complete the relief works for the rain-affected people before August 10. Otherwise, the funds would lapse and the officials concerned would have to face action, he warned.

Presiding over a review meeting here on Friday, he said that the KPCL officials should be in constant touch with the district administration during rains and give prior intimation as regards the release of excess water from the reservoir at Gersoppa and Kadra. The minister also reviewed the progress of different departments in implantation of development works.

Deputy Commissioner Amarnarayan told the meeting that help centres had been opened in each tahsildar's office and also in Assistant Commissioners offices, which would work round-the-clock to help the people in distress during rains. He said that 80 life jackets had been provided to the thasildar offices in all eleven taluks. Further, the services of 100 home guards had been taken to help flood victims. ZP CEO Vijaymohanraj, Karwar municipal president Ganapati Ulvekar, KUDA president RG Naik, AC MR Ravi, additional Deputy Commissioner KH Narasimhamurthy and other officials attended the meeting.

Meet discusses artificial flood near Karwar naval base

Karwar: Primary and Secondary Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri and also the District In-Charge Minister held a special meeting with the officials of Karwar Naval Base here on Friday to discuss the problem of artificial flood caused by a protective wall built around the base in the villages of Arga, Chendiye and Idur.

The minister suggested to hold a joint inspection by the Revenue, PWD, National Highway and the CRZ officials along with the naval officials before taking up any work to improve the situation.

Commodore Rajiv Jaswal, the officer In-Charge of the base with other officials attended the meeting. Jaswal argued that water logging was a common phenomenon in low-lying areas during rains. Further, the culverts on the rain water to escape. He hinted that the protective wall was not the cause for the artificial flood in the villages.

AC MR Ravi, refuting the argument of Jaswal said that the free flow of the rainwater was interrupted by the wall. He pointed out that the water outlet provided in the wall was too narrow. The increase in the altitude of the surface for construction activities within the base had also disturbed the free flow of rainwater into the sea. Ganapati Mangre, a fishermen leader, said that more water outlets should be created to avoid flood in the villages. Jaswal feared that construction of more outlets might create more problem during high tide. However, his argument was rejected by the villagers. Finally the meeting decided to hold a joint inspection of next Thursday before taking any action.

'Kaiga station affecting health of villagers'

Karwar: Western Ghats Development Task Force chairman Anant Hegde Ashisara in a letter addressed to Chief Minister BS Yeddyurppa, expressed concern over the growing number of villagers suffering form cancer in villages around Kaiga. A copy of the letter was released here on Friday.

Giving details of his visit to the villages coming under the limits of Vajralli, Kalache and Mavinmane gram panchayats along with Bio-fuel Development Task Force chairman YB Ramakrishna recently, he pointed out that 28 persons had been suffering from cancer in villages since 2006. There was not a single case of cancer in the villagers prior to the establishment of Kaiga nuclear project in 1999, he added.

According to Ashisara, the numbers of persons suffering from various skin diseases and infertility are also on the increase. He stated that the villages fear that the possible radiation form the nuclear station is the main reason for the health problems.

Ashisara suggested that a team of health experts be deputed to these villages to find out the fact. A health survey should be taken up in these villages. He urged the CM to suggest to Kaiga officials to have an interactive session with representatives of voluntary organizations and people's representatives.

Two missing

Sirsi: Krishna Appu Siddi (40) of Mavinakatta village in Yellapur taluk has been missing since Wednesday. His wife Yamuna registered a complaint with the Yellapur police station on Wednesday.

In another case, Suresh Ramachandra Shetty (55) of Banavasi in Sirsi taluk, has been missing since a month. His wife Geeta has filed a complaint.

DFO Gokul seeks police protection

Karwar: Divisional Forest Officers R Gokul, who exposed illegal iron ore export from Belekeri and Karwar port, has appealed the superintendent of police to give him police protection here on Thursday.

He has filed a complaint with the police stating he was chased by some miscreants in a Scorpio car when he was retuning Karwar during night hours after participating in a meeting at Sirsi recently.

Sources said that Mr Gokul filed a complaint at the SP office here and a copy of the same has been faxed to Sirsi as the SP was there. Reviewing the complaints, the SP has asked the Town Police to register a case in this regard. However, it was no confirmed whether a formal case was filed or not till nigh on Thursday.

The sources also said that thee was threat to life of Mr Gokul following his daring act of exposing the illegal export of ores from Belekeri and Karwar port.