Minister instructs officers to spread awareness on VB-G RAM G

Madhu Bangarappa, the Minister responsible for Shivamogga district, convened a meeting on Saturday to assess the drought conditions in Shivamogga and its rural constituencies. He directed officers to create employment opportunities for rural residents through the VB-G RAM G scheme. The Minister noted that early monsoon rainfall decline had adversely affected rural communities.

He emphasized that officers should raise public awareness about the scheme's advantages via gram sabhas and pamphlet distribution. N. Hemanth, CEO of the Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat, stated that the scheme had been operational in the district since July 1, and officers were mandated to undertake at least one significant project in each panchayat.

He also mentioned that 82 works aimed at preventing landslides during heavy rains had been initiated in the district. Officers informed Bangarappa that the Tunga reservoir in Gajanur, Shivamogga taluk, was completely filled, while the Bhadra reservoir in Lakkavalli, Tarikere taluk, was only 50% full. If Bhadra reservoir's inflow increased, the additional water could be used for agriculture.

However, farmers had been discouraged from cultivating due to anticipated water availability from reservoirs. MLA S.N. Channabasappa raised a concern regarding the compensation not yet provided to families whose homes were destroyed in the heavy rains. He appealed to the government to raise the relief amount to ₹5 lakh for those whose houses were entirely demolished.

Present at the meeting were Shivamogga Rural MLA Sharada Puryanaik, MLC Dhananjaya Sarji, Deputy Commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti, SP B. Nikhil, and other officials.