Udupi: Officials should combine competence with compassion and take steps to ensure that poor families affected by natural calamities receive the maximum possible compensation, health and family welfare minister UT Khader said.Speaking at a taluk-level rain-damage review meeting at the taluk panchayat’s Samarthya Soudha in Karkala Saturday, Khader said: “We should pray that natural disasters do not occur. However, when calamities strike, the govt must respond immediately. Officials should personally visit affected families and reassure them that the administration stands with them.”He directed officials to remain alert round the clock until the end of the monsoon and promptly respond to telephone calls from the public.Khader instructed the agriculture and horticulture departments to survey crop damage and ensure adequate compensation for affected farmers. Referring to safety in educational institutions, he said precautionary measures should be taken after the education department identified 342 unsafe classrooms and 50 compound walls.Referring to the damage to 965 electricity poles under the Mescom division, the minister directed officials to examine the quality of the poles and respond properly to public complaints.Presiding over the meeting, Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar said the forest department had repeatedly been directed to remove dangerous trees but had failed to act.“A person died after a tree fell in Hebri because of the department’s negligence. A similar incident occurred in Belanje last year. A case should be registered against the forest department over such incidents,” he said.Taluk Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee president Ajith Hegde informed the minister that private operators had obtained a stay against KSRTC bus services on the Palli-Bailur and Nitte-Padubidri routes. He urged the minister to resolve the issue immediately so that beneficiaries could avail themselves of the Shakti scheme.A fire and emergency services official said a separate fire station had been sanctioned for Hebri and funds released, but construction could not begin because a file related to the forest department was pending. Khader directed officials to act immediately.The minister also praised the police for swiftly cracking the killing of former Mudarangadi Gram Panchayat president David D’Souza and tracing three accused.Coastal Development Authority chairman MA Gafoor, deputy commissioner Swaroopa TK, zilla panchayat CEO Prateek Bayal and SP Hariram Shankar were present.
