CHESCOM LOSES 800 POLES;

Madikeri July 4, 2007

Natural calamity has led CHESCOM to loss 800 poles in the district.

CHESCOM officials told this correspondent yesterday that they have lost about 800 poles in the district due to flood and tree falling. The total loss so far is estimated at rupees 69 lakh.

Along with the poles, transformers in many places have been damaged and wires lost. An electric tower at Gonicoppa is damaged inundated in flood waters. CHESCOM chief engineer Shanthi from Mysore told this correspondent that additional officials are posted to Kodagu to manage the crisis and two additional Lorries were also sent. Yet, working condition in Kodagu makes it difficult for the workers to rectify the damages immediately. Kodagu is quite different from Mysore and workers find it tiresome to work, she opined. She agreed that there is shortage of workers and they are not coming forward to work.

Works will be undertaken on priority basis, she said.

CHIKLI RIVER FULL, BRIDGE COLLAPSES AT BHAGAMANDALA;

Chikli mini reservoir is full and a bridge at Bhagamandala gave way delinking six villages.

Thogh the quantum of rainfall is decreasing since yesterday, the impact of floods brought down a bridge. House collapses are common in many parts and landslides are being reported.

In south Kodagu, lakshmana Teertha river is in full spate and around three hundred houses are inundated. Hundreds of hecters of land are submerged in these areas.

A portion of Maletirike hill at Virajpet has come down and landlides are being reported from all sides of this hill. District administration has asked the peple living on this mountain to move to safety.

MLC Arun Machaiah and former MLA Appachu Ranjan paid a visit to karadigodu village. Cauvery is running in full spate here delinking Siddapur from Karadigodu. Arun Machaiah said that he will release two lakh to build a bridge here. The total cost of the bridge is estimated at rupees ten lakh and the proposal to build it is pending since years. Two persons driving a car here had entered watery grave couple of years ago.