Madikeri: Agriculture minister and Kodagu district minister PM Narendraswamy, along with chief minister’s political secretary AS Ponnanna and Madikeri MLA Manthar Gowda, on Sunday, participated in a special puja for rain at the Padi Sri Igguthappa temple.Kushal Bhat, the chief priest, performed the puja and Rudrabhishekam. President of the Bhakta Jana Samiti of Padi Sri Igguthappa temple Paradanda Suman Subramani and president of temple management committee Bachamanda Raja Poovanna were present.The minister and MLAs arrived at 6am and performed a pradakshina of the temple and leading to filling the reservoirs and bringing abundant crops, bringing prosperity and happiness to everyone in the state.Speaking to reporters, the minister said that as per govt’s directives, the district administration had performed Rudrabhishekam and special puja at the Padi Sri Igguthappa temple. If there is more rain in the land of Cauvery, the reservoirs in Cauvery basin will be filled, and good crops and drinking water will be available, he stated.The minister said that if the monsoon intensifies, the inter-state water dispute with Tamil Nadu will be addressed and 90% of the problems will be solved.Responding to a question that people in Kodagu district are living in fear due to the threat of wild animals, the minister said that govt has taken necessary steps to control the wild elephant problem. He asked people, including tourists, to be careful.
