Udupi: Revenue minister R Ashok has instructed officials to take all necessary precautions to prevent any public distress from the rains and natural disasters in the district.

He was speaking at the Udupi district office on Friday, August 7, chairing a discussion on rain damage and natural disaster in the district.

Taking appropriate precautions to prevent natural disasters can help prevent disasters, so plan a pre-commissioned plan, otherwise a large number of disasters are likely. Minister Ashok said the NDRF team in Mangalore should seek help from the district in case of disaster prevention.

The Revenue Minister said that the district has identified the areas where disasters have occurred for the last 10 years, taking precautionary measures in the area to ensure that the public is not affected. The Revenue Minister said there was no shortage of grants for the relief of the victims and the need to move the flood victims to safer places.

Establish a task force at the district, taluk and village level to recruit natural disasters, recruit nodal officers, recruit local representatives in these task forces, meet every 15 days to discuss the issues, identify social workers at village level, train them on disaster management and take help from them during the natural disasters, R Ashok said.

The minister, who received information on rainfall and crop details in the district, said, "Distribute seed and fertilizer adequately, look for any deficiencies, conduct an adequate survey on crop damage, submit details of estimated loss to the government and take action to distribute relief to the victims."

Sea erosion has been identified in 13 areas of Udupi district and permanent work will be undertaken to prevent this. The District Panchayat CEO has been instructed to take steps for speedy settlement of Grants 2 and 3 to build houses for the last time homeless in the district.

Under the Natural Disaster Management at Karkala, a well equipped mansion will be constructed at a cost of Rs 10 crore, which will provide training on disaster relief and rehabilitation of those affected by the flood disaster. The mansion will have a separate room, a reading room and a hospital for women and men, and will be used for government functions at other times, the Revenue Minister said.

Muzarai minister Kota Srinivasa Poojary, said the first installment of last year's house damage was released, pending installments to be released at the earliest.

Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat appealed to the government to carry out high quality permanent works to prevent sea erosion.

Karkala  MLA Sunil Kumar said that the rain-damaged rural road bridge and the school compound were damaged and urgently needed to be repaired.

Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivasa Shetty said that not only the sea erosion, but also due to river erosion also has been which to take prompt action.

Speaking to the occasion, District Commissioner G Jagadeesh said that during the emergencies if SDRF team concentrated in Udupi district, it would be easier to work and to take soon from the district.

District Panchayat President Dinakar Babu, Coastal Development Authority Chairman Mattaru Ratnakara Hegde, District Panchayat CEO Preeti Gehloth, SP Vishnuvardhan, ADC Sadashiva Prabhu, Kundapur Deputy Divisional Officer Raju and all the Tahsildars of the district were present.