– CM assured that he will boost tourism and help Coorg to regain its past glory
– District In-charge Minister V Somanna said the conversion of land will start again
– Madikeri & Virajpet MLA’s submitted a memorandum to the CM with a list of demands
The MLA’s asked for:
1). 130 crore for clearing silt built up in Harangi backwaters, Hattihole in Madapura, and the Cauvery river as he blamed silt for floods in areas close to places including Kushalnagar.
2). Implement his order on providing free power to farmers’ pumpsets (up to 10 HP) in the district.
3). To direct the Revenue Department to give permission for land conversion in Coorg, claiming that the restriction has been a bottleneck for the construction of petrol bunks and other establishments.
4). To release the balance 433 crore of the last year flood relief package that was announced.
It has to be noted that the state government had banned all land conversions in the district after the last monsoon floods, taking into account the fragile ecosystem of Coorg. It had also come to light that some people were encroaching forest lands and were even converting forest land right under the nose of the government.
