Central team to survey flood-hit Karnataka districts for relief aid

News Network
September 4, 2020

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Bengaluru, Sep 4 : A six-member central team would visit Karnataka on September 7 for three days to survey the flood-hit districts for assessing damage caused by heavy rains and granting relief aid, a minister said on Thursday.

"The team, led by Union Ministry of Home Affairs joint secretary K.V. Pratap will survey the 5 flood-hit districts in the southern, coastal and northwest regions of the state on September 7 to assess the losses for compensation," state Revenue Minister R. Ashoka told reporters here.

The worst-hit districts are Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Vijayapura.

The state government has compiled a report on the havoc wreaked by incessant rains and flash floods in dozen districts across the southern state.

"The loss is estimated to be about Rs 4,800 crore due to damage to houses, buildings, roads, bridges and state highways by rains and floods in July and August, as the southwest monsoon was active and widespread," said Ashoka.

"The team will also hold talks with Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on September 7 after surveying the affected districts," said Ashoka.

On September 8, the team will also visit headquarters of the affected districts for spot assessment of the damage with the officials.

"On September 9, the team will discuss the situation with me and the revenue secretary and other officials for a first-hand account of the assessment," he said.

About 20 people died in heavy rains and flood-related incidents, displaced about 4,000 people and damaged over 7,000 houses, while 1.4 lakh hectares of agricultural land suffered crop loss.

The central government released Rs 395 crore in August for rescue and relief works in the affected districts.

Taking stock of the grim situation in the affected districts, the Chief Minister said at Belagavi on August 25 that he would seek more central funds for relief works and aid to the affected people.

As governance and administrative work has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March, the chief minister said the state government would spend on relief works from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) till the Centre releases additional funds to the southern state.

Belagavi is about 500 kms northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.

Though timely southwest monsoon since June with heavy and widespread rains across the state filled reservoirs and water bodies, release of excess water and discharges from rain-hit Maharashtra dams in the Krishna river led to flooding of villages in low-lying areas, damage to farmland, roads, bridges and houses in the state's northwest districts in July-August.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: Public transport in Mangaluru is set for a state-led transformation as the government moves to deploy 100 new electric govt buses to replace unreliable private services. The initiative aims to provide a dependable alternative to private operators who have been frequently "cutting trips," leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

The announcement was made by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV during a public phone-in session. The move specifically targets routes where private bus service has become erratic, ensuring that citizens no longer have to rely on a fluctuating private sector for their daily commute.

Restoring the Govt Presence

The transport crisis was brought to the forefront by Ramayya, a resident of Bajal, who highlighted a growing trend of private buses skipping morning and night trips. With the previous KSRTC (govt) services discontinued, residents have been left without a fallback option.

To fix this, the DC confirmed that the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will bring 100 government-owned electric buses to the city:

•    Phased Deployment: The first 50 of the new 100 government buses are scheduled to arrive by March 2026.

•    State Infrastructure: Two new government depots, including one at Mudipu, are being prepared for operations.

•    Recruitment: The state has already begun training a new batch of government bus drivers to ensure the fleet is operational the moment it arrives.

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