Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assesses flood damage in Dakshina Kannada

Mangalore: Health and Family Welfare Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday visited flood and rain-affected areas in the district to assess the damage and address local concerns.

During his visit, the minister interacted with the residents, listened to their grievances and assured them of the government’s support. He asked officials to respond promptly to the issues raised by the community.

Expressing concern over a mudslide in Kettikal on the outskirts of Mangaluru, the minister announced the formation of a technical committee to investigate the incident as well as flooding in areas near Adyapady.

“The residents of Adyapady have reported that the floods are caused by the backflow of a check dam and they are looking for a permanent solution. Also, we have observed mudslide here in Kettikal. The technical committee will look into both these issues in depth,” the minister told reporters here.

The minister also revealed plans for a high-level probe into soil extraction in Kettikal.

“Prima facie, there appear to be lapses. Large amounts of land were extracted under the guise of work on the national road. We need to investigate how the municipality handled the situation and how the Department of Mines and Geology allowed the extraction of soil from the hill. A high-level investigation will be launched,” he said.

He added that further details on the investigation process will be communicated soon.

Preliminary estimates indicate a loss of Rs 200 crore to roads and electricity in the district due to recent heavy rains and floods.