Karnataka rain: Minister Eshwar Khandre orders immediate crop insurance relief, school repairs, flood measures in Bidar district

District In-charge and Minister for Forest, Environment and Biology Eshwar B. Khandre directed urgent action to address the widespread damage caused by relentless rains in Bidar district of Karnataka.

Chairing a review meeting at the zilla panchayat office on August 29, he instructed agriculture and revenue officials to conduct a survey of crop damage without delay, and to ensure farmers receive proper compensation from crop insurance companies.

Noting that heavy rains over the past fortnight cut off many villages, Mr. Khandre ordered engineers to personally inspect damaged roads rather than rely on digital updates, and to restore connectivity immediately. He directed that bus services be resumed in Aurad, Kamalnagar and Bhalki taluks, where operations had been suspended due to flooding.

The Minister instructed officials to fill potholes on a war footing to prevent accidents, and to take up permanent road repair in October after the monsoon. He told the administration to calculate funds available under SDRF and NDRF schemes, and to propose permanent work alongside temporary relief measures.

Concerned over waterlogging in schools, Mr. Khandre ordered immediate draining of premises where children were unable to attend classes. He warned that if any mishap occurs in dilapidated school buildings, the concerned Block Education Officers and Deputy Director of Public Instruction would be held personally responsible. Immediate repairs, or demolition and reconstruction of unsafe structures, must be undertaken, he said, stressing that funds would not be a constraint. The same instructions apply to anganwadi centres where quality checks for new buildings are mandatory.

He directed health authorities to maintain vigilance against mosquito breeding and waterborne diseases in rain-hit areas. Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) centres and hospitals in poor condition must be repaired without delay, he said. Further, Panchayat Development Officers, Sub-Inspectors and health officers were told to stay overnight in their headquarters, and transferred officials were not to be relieved until replacements take charge.

Taking irrigation engineers to task for failing to prepare DPRs of projects, Mr. Khandre warned of disciplinary action against officials who neglect instructions.

Inspection of flood-hit areas

Earlier in the day, Mr. Khandre visited Kanajii and nearby villages affected by flooding around the Karanja reservoir. Paddy, black gram, pigeon pea, green gram, soybean and sugarcane crops were found to be severely damaged, with several houses collapsing under the impact of heavy rains. After hearing grievances, the Minister assured farmers that the government of Karnataka would provide relief at the earliest.

Inspecting the Karanja reservoir, the district’s lifeline, he was briefed that the 7 tmcft-capacity dam was full, receiving 10,000 cusecs of inflow and releasing 13,000 cusecs. Mr. Khandre directed officers to manage water discharge as per safety norms and to take precautionary measures to protect lives and property.

467 mm rainfall recorded in Bidar

According to official data, Bidar district has so far received 467 mm of rainfall during the current south-west monsoon, slightly above the normal of 466 mm. In the last 24 hours alone, 59 mm of rain has been recorded.

Rains have damaged 94 houses and 66,906 hectares of crops, though no human or animal lives have been lost. Infrastructure losses are extensive, including 70 km of roads, 47 bridges, 1,335 school rooms, 138 electricity poles, 21 transformers, 11 km of power lines, and 38 minor irrigation tanks and projects.

District authorities are carrying out surveys to assess the full scale of damage while relief measures are being coordinated to support the affected population.