Government fails to take precautionary steps: Opposition

Bangalore, July 16 (UNI) Opposition Congress members in Karnataka Legislative Council today accused the Government of failing to take precautionary measures to avoid large-scale damage to property and life due to heavy rains.

Participating in a discussion on rain havoc in the State, V S Ugrappa, Congress alleged despite warning by the Meteorological Department about the possibility of heavy rainfall in the State, the Government failed to take precautionary steps.

Mr Ugrappa said due to heavy rains in many parts of the State, including Coastal and Malnad belt, large-scale damages had occurred.

But the Ministers have not shown interest in visiting the affected places, he alleged.

Taking exception to release of water from Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, he said the Government should have taken steps to solve the drinking water problem in Hassan District by utilising the excess water in Cauvery, before releasing it to the neighbouring State.

Pratapchandra Shetty, Congress said every year the coastal areas in the State were facing problems like sea erosion and keeping sand bags and boulders on a temporary basis did not serve the purpose, as they got washed away during the rainy season.

The Government had failed to take preventive measures, he alleged.

Mr Shetty said the construction of a preventive wall should have been the initial step to pave way for the construction of a permanent wall, but it was, instead, washed away in the rough sea.

The Government had released Rs two crore for relief works without consulting local bodies and elected representatives, he added.

Mr Anand, Congress said in Hassan District, due to heavy rain, the potato and tobacco growers had incurred heavy losses and the Government, let alone compensating for the loss, had not released the compensation for last year.

The discussion remained inconclusive.

UNI