DC directs officials to speed up joint investigation into crop failures

Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu GRJ chairs a review meeting of the District Disaster Management Authority in Dharwad on Saturday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Divya Prabhu (GRJ) has directed officials to complete the joint inquiry of the Finance and Agriculture Ministries into the crop losses due to excessive and prolonged rainfall in the Kharif season.

Addressing the District Disaster Management Board meeting in Dharwad on Saturday, Ms Prabhu said that crop failure had occurred in Dharwad, Alnavar and Kalaghatagi taluks due to incessant rains. She directed the officials to expedite the joint inquiry and said it would be submitted to the government immediately.

Rain damage

The DC said that 624 km of the road, which is under the supervision of the Panchayat Raj Engineering Department, has been damaged due to rains and the officials should use the available resources of the department to get them repaired and make the roads motorable. Apart from this, 35 bridges have been damaged due to the heavy rains and these should be repaired on priority, she added and directed the officials to submit a comprehensive report on the same to the department heads immediately.

drinking water

Ms Prabhu asked the officials to ensure that the drinking water provided to the public is safe to drink and that any complaints about supply of polluted or contaminated water will be dealt with strictly. The officials concerned will be held accountable and criminal proceedings will be initiated against them, she warned.

The DC expressed displeasure over the absence of officials of some departments and substitute staff at the review meeting and said that notice would be served on those absent under the Disaster Management Act and legal action would be initiated.

Prashanth Patil, chief engineer of the construction department, said they had received a grant of Rs 1.16 crore for emergency works and it would be used for priority works.

Deputy Director of Women and Child Development HH Kukanur informed the gathering that they had received funds for repairing 44 anganwadis out of 66 buildings damaged due to rains. The orders for the repair work would be issued soon, she said.

Officials from various departments including Dr Sujata Hasavimath, SS Keladimath and others spoke about the damage and the measures taken so far. Deputy Commissioner Geetha CD and other officials were also present.