HARANGI TO REPLICATE KRS;

The managing director of the Cauvery Irrigation Board mr.Bharatlal Mina told that Harangi reservoir near Kushalnagar would be developed in lines of KRS.

Answering a query by this correspondent yesterday, that the former MD, Mr.Thimmegowda had proposed this scheme, he told that the board has approved this proposal. But he clarified that the government cannot spend money on this project, as it has to utilize the available fund for improving Cauvery basin.

But he also said that the Board has decided to allow private entrepreneurs under the contract “build, maintain and handover” agreement.

Harangi reservoir has a large area with non-maintained garden. Former Chief Minister, late Mr.R.Gundu Rao had a dream of converting Harangi into a beautiful tourism spot in the lines of Krishnaraja Sagar.

Meanwhile, Mr.Bharatlal Mina also said that farmers should be educated to conserve water. Awareness should be brought about utilizing water with care.

RAIN HAVOC CONTINUES;

Scattered rain with heavy winds is battering the district since three days. Telephone and electric poles in many parts have fallen causing total inconvenience. Roads have been closed in many parts as huge trees are falling down. PWD and police are unable to clear all the roads. A picture attached with this report shows an elephant being taken to a spot to clear a tree.

LAKHS GO IN RAINS; HOUSES SWEPT AWAY, POLES DAMAGED;

Hundreds of electric and telephone polls have collapsed, seven houses were swept away and livestocks were killed since yesterday night due to heavy rainfall and winds in Kodagu.

Seven houses on the banks of Lakshmana Teertha River were swept away by the flash floods yesterday night at Poojekallu near Nagarahole National Park. About 22 members of the seven families, including six children had a miraculous escape. The district administration has opened ‘Ganji Kendra’ at Kutta to rehabilitate them. The revenue department estimated the loss as three lakh in this incident.

Two cows and a calf were also swept away in the flash floods.

Another cow was electrocuted at Mayamudi in South Kodagu as it came in contact with a grounded iron electric pole.

Several houses have collapsed in all the three talukas, the survey work of which is going on.While coffee and plantain plants are totally damaged in balele side due to heavy winds, jowar crop is grounded in Kushalnagar side, resulting in huge loss. Somwarpet and Kushalnagar routes were blocked nearly for half a day as huge trees were uprooted by the winds. Hundreds of trees have fallen causing damage to houses and electric poles all over the district.

The KPTCL Assistant Executive engineer Mr.P.S.Kaverappa has said more than 300 poles are grounded in the district causing a loss of six lakhs. 105 poles at Sadikeri, 80 at Virajpet and 133 at Somwarpet are grounded causing powerloss to many places. Around 6.5 kilometers of electric wires are also damaged so far. He said that they require at least three more days to rectify the faults and restore power.

The Deputy commissioner Mr.Subodh yadav is surveying the areas and taking stock of the situations. He said that the tahasildars of the respective taluks are given money to be used on emergency and all precautions are being taken to combat the rain havoc.

Irpu received 11 inches of rain, Paadi 10 inches, Srimangala 9 inches, Madikeri 3.27 inches, Somwarpet 7.23 inches, Virajpet 3.98, Bhagamandala 2.74 and Talacauvery 4.4 inches.