Mangaluru: The Karnataka government has assured that there is no shortage of funds for disaster management in Dakshina Kannada, with Health Minister U T Khader stating that adequate financial resources have already been allocated and additional funds will be released if required. The minister made the remarks after chairing a disaster management and drinking water progress review meeting at the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner’s office auditorium on Sunday.

Government assures sufficient disaster relief funds

Addressing officials and elected representatives, Khader said the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner had already released Rs 44 lakh to each taluk in the district, amounting to nearly Rs 1.5 crore. He emphasised that there was no shortage of funds to tackle natural disasters and assured that the state government would immediately provide additional financial assistance if required.

The minister stressed that government departments must act promptly whenever natural calamities occur. He directed officials to personally visit affected locations, assess the situation on the ground and initiate relief measures without delay.

Khader criticised the practice of relying only on photographs submitted by others to process compensation or sanction funds. He said field inspections by responsible officials were essential to ensure timely assistance to affected families.

Officials urged to resolve issues without delay

Highlighting the importance of coordinated governance, Khader said natural disasters were beyond human control, but elected representatives, government officials and the public must work together to reduce the hardships faced by affected people.

He observed that rules framed at the state level might not suit the specific needs of every district and encouraged officials to find practical solutions within the scope of existing regulations.

Using a football analogy, Khader advised officials not to pass problems from one department to another. Instead, he urged them to work collectively and “score the goal” by solving public issues efficiently.

Rainfall remains below normal despite recent showers

Officials informed the meeting that Dakshina Kannada received 32 per cent below-normal pre-monsoon rainfall between March 1 and May 31.

Although the district experienced good rainfall over the past week, the seasonal deficit continues. Between January 1 and July 4, Dakshina Kannada recorded 785.7 mm of rainfall against the normal 1,338.07 mm.

The Agriculture Department informed the meeting that delayed rainfall during June had affected paddy transplantation. While cultivation in low-lying areas remained favourable, irrigation was necessary in higher regions.

Officials confirmed that there was sufficient availability of paddy seeds and fertilisers across the district.

Khader instructed agriculture officials to immediately inspect fields where crops had been damaged due to excessive rainfall or adverse weather conditions and submit reports for further action.

Pepper crop affected, arecanut remains safe

Horticulture officials reported that black pepper cultivation had suffered due to inadequate rainfall, whereas arecanut plantations had not sustained any significant damage.

During the discussion, an official mistakenly quoted an unusually high market price for arecanut before apologising. Responding humorously, Khader remarked that if such prices were actually prevailing, everyone would begin cultivating arecanut, while reminding officials to provide accurate information during official review meetings.

Faulty rain gauges raise concerns

The functioning of rain gauge stations also came under scrutiny.

Khader referred to complaints regarding malfunctioning rain gauge stations across the district. Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju K informed the meeting that out of 274 rain gauge stations, only 108 were functioning properly.

Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya said inaccurate rainfall measurements were affecting agricultural planning, while Legislative Council member Kishore Kumar noted that faulty rainfall data had resulted in disparities in crop insurance compensation received by farmers.

Landslide and flood-prone areas identified

Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V informed the meeting that the district administration had identified 88 landslide-prone locations and 92 flood-prone areas across Dakshina Kannada.

Regarding the retaining wall collapse at Naguri on July 1, he said an FIR had been registered, a technical report submitted to the government and legal action initiated against the landowner.

MLC Ivan D’Souza raised concerns about houses built on government-allotted sites located below privately owned hill slopes, questioning who would be held responsible if future landslides caused damage.

Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath urged the Revenue Department and Mangaluru City Corporation to construct retaining walls for such vulnerable residential areas instead of limiting assistance to land allotment.

National Highway issues draw sharp criticism

Khader strongly criticised officials over unresolved infrastructure problems at Pumpwell, Kottara, Nanthoor, near AJ Hospital and Thokkottu Junction along the National Highway.

Officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) claimed delays were caused by lack of cooperation from other departments, including pending removal of MESCOM electricity poles at Nanthoor and issues involving the Public Works Department (PWD).

Khader directed NHAI and PWD officials to jointly resolve pending issues, stating that elected representatives were facing public criticism because of administrative delays.

When officials highlighted staff shortages within the highways department, Khader asked them to submit a written report. He assured that he would raise the matter with the Union Minister for Road Transport during his visit to New Delhi.

School repairs and public health receive attention

Officials informed the meeting that steps had been initiated to release Rs 1.5 crore under NDRF and SDRF guidelines for repairing 91 rain-damaged primary schools during 2026. Another Rs 2.5 crore has been proposed for repairing 115 anganwadi centres affected by heavy rainfall.

Legislative Council member Dr Manjunath Bhandary referred to media reports highlighting unsafe classrooms in several schools. Khader directed the Education Department to submit a comprehensive report on unsafe school buildings, classrooms and compound walls requiring immediate repairs.

The minister also instructed the Health Department to examine the demand for appointing doctors during night duty at the government hospital in Kukke Subrahmanya, considering the large number of pilgrims visiting the temple town.

Additionally, Khader advised MESCOM to avoid assigning employees with drinking habits for night emergency duties, stating that inappropriate behaviour towards the public during emergencies would not be tolerated.

Appreciation for rescue volunteers

At the conclusion of the meeting, Minister U T Khader distributed appreciation and gratitude certificates to individuals who assisted the families of victims who lost their lives in the retaining wall collapse near Naguri earlier this week.

The review meeting was attended by senior district officials, police officers, elected representatives and heads of various government departments, who discussed preparedness for the ongoing monsoon season and measures to strengthen disaster response across Dakshina Kannada.

Conclusion

With monsoon activity expected to continue in the coming weeks, the Karnataka government has directed departments to strengthen coordination, ensure quicker field inspections and provide timely relief to affected residents. The administration has also prioritised infrastructure repairs, disaster preparedness and accurate rainfall monitoring to minimise the impact of future natural calamities in Dakshina Kannada.