Central team visits rain-hit areas in Udupi district

Udupi: A team of officials from the Union Government visited areas affected by heavy rain and sea erosion in Udupi district on Monday.

The team visited the completely damaged house of Jalaja Poojarti in the Puttur area here. Ms. Poojarti’s granddaughter Jyoti, a PUC student, told the team that the house was damaged by heavy rain on July 20. The family had received compensation of Rs. 25,000, she said.

The team members asked Deputy Commissioner P. Hemalatha if some relief could be provided under the Ashraya scheme.

Ms. Hemalatha said that she would have to check whether further relief could be provided under the urban Ashraya scheme.

The pathetic condition of Ms. Poojarti’s house was there for all to see. The walls of Ms. Poojarti’s house have collapsed. Many utensils and household items have been kept outside the house. Ms. Poojarti lives with her daughter Vasanti, granddaughter Jyoti, and grandson Gangadhar. An official said that the family of Ms. Poojarti was below the poverty line (BPL).

Earlier, Ms. Poojarti told presspersons that the authorities should pay her adequate compensation to get her house properly repaired. She and her family members were now living in a relative’s house. An emotional Ms. Poojarti broke down many times while explaining the condition of her house and family.

“My daughter Vasanti works as a labourer. Our financial condition is bad. There are no foodgrains in my house,” she said. The Central team, comprising Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry B. Bhamathi; Joint Director of Rural Development, New Delhi, P. Manoj Kumar; and Senior Research Officer in the Planning Commission R.K. Sharma; along with Superintending Engineer, Public Works Department, Bangalore, C.R. Gangadhar; and Ms. Hemalatha, visited Siddapur, Belve, Halady, Ulloor, Shankarnarayana, Kundapur, Aroor, Udupi-Puttur, Udyavar, Padukere, Bada,