Mudigere, Aug 11, :Paddy seedlings which were transplanted on 6,000 hectare land has been damaged in the heavy rain that lashed the taluk a week ago, said MLA B B Ningaiah. The incessant rain that has lashed the taluk has wreaked widespread damage to standing crops.
Speaking to mediapersons after inspecting the damaged paddy fields at Gonibeedu hobli, he said with the rise in water-level in river Hemavathi, Japavathi, Doddalla, Abbihalla, paddy fields were inundated. Owing to heavy rain this year, the paddy saplings are rotting in the water. With the overflow of river, all the soil from the river had entered into the paddy fields and had submerged the seedlings. “I have already directed agriculture and horticulture department officials to assess the damage and provide complete details on the damage,” he said.
Mudigere taluk has received record rainfall this year. The farmers are in distress after losing the crops. He urged District-in-Charge Minister to visit the rain-affected areas to asses the damage for two days and provide suitable compensation to the farmers.
The MLA said that a Forum under the banner of ‘Sankashtakke Silukiruva Malnad Rakshisi’ has been formed to fight for the issue of Inam land, in Chikmagalur, Kodagu, Hassan and Shimoga district. The Forum will fight for the cause of wild elephant menace, problems pertaining to forest and revenue land, and encroachment. A delegation from the taluk will be taken to Chief Minister to apprise him of the travails of the people of the taluk due to excessive rainfall and seek adequate compensation to take up relief works.
JD(S) hobli president K B Ramachandra, Mandimane Lakshmana Gowda, Puttaswamy and others were present.