Latest news with #Venkataraja
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Red alert: Holiday for schools, colleges in Kodagu
Schools and colleges in Kodagu will remain closed on Friday (July 18) following a forecast of heavy rains in the district. Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja issued an order declaring holiday for schools, anganwadi centres and PU colleges with the IMD issuing a red alert, forecasting heavy rainfall. However, the ITI examinations will be conducted as scheduled, the Deputy Commissioner informed.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- The Hindu
Heavy vehicles banned in Kodagu till August 5
The temporary ban on the movement of heavy vehicles in Kodagu district has been extended till August 5, as per an order issued by Deputy Commissioner and Regional Transport Authority Chairman Venkataraja. The ban applies to all types of timber lorries and sand transportation vehicles, goods vehicles with a registered weight exceeding 18.5 tonnes, bullet tankers, ship cargo containers, long chassis (multi-axle) vehicles, and articulated trucks. However, exemptions have been granted to LPG and fuel supply vehicles, milk supply vehicles, vehicles used for government work, and school, college, and public passenger vehicles, including multi-axle buses. The restriction has been imposed under the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, Disaster Management Act, 2005, Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the Bharatiya Nagarika Suraksha Sanhita (Indian Civil Security Code), 2023, to ensure public safety and smooth traffic flow in the district, which is witnessing heavy rain. Check posts will be set up at Kushalnagar and Sampaje borders on the national highway- 275 passing through Kodagu, with round the clock monitoring and patrolling. The police and the officials of the Transport Department have been directed to enforce the ban and initiate legal action against violators, the Deputy Commissioner said. Earlier, the ban was in force between June 6 and July 5.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
Rains in Kodagu: District administration initiates precautionary measures, sets up helpline
The district administration in Kodagu has set up helpline 08272-221077 to enable the public and officials to share information pertaining to heavy rains following the onset of monsoon. In a review meeting conducted in Madikeri on Tuesday, the district in-charge secretary, N.V. Prasad, said that, in addition to the helpline, a WhatsApp number 8550001077 has also been enabled to facilitate the public and officials to share information related to disasters caused by heavy rains. In addition to the above, disaster management helpline centers have been opened at various taluks — the numbers are Madikeri - 08272-228396; Virajpet - 08274-257328; Somwarpet– 08276-282045; Kushalnagar– 08276-200198; Ponnampet – 08274-249700. To ensure greater coordination and efficiency among officials, instructions were issued to form WhatsApp groups for officials at the taluk level involving tahsildars, taluk panchayat executive officers, PDOs, gram panchayat secretaries, public works department, panchayat raj engineers, police, fire department, village assistants, and home guards. The nodal officers, already appointed at the district level, will coordinate with taluk-level officials to ensure effective disaster management, Mr. Prasad said. Instructions were issued to ensure the immediate clearing of the roads and removal of the fallen trees, electricity poles, restoration of power supply, etc. If required, the local authorities should also open temporary relief centres and people living in vulnerable areas should be asked to relocate in case of intensification of rains, according to Mr. Prasad. Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja said that there was no dearth of funds to take up relief measures, and the district administration had Rs 40 crore for managing natural disasters. He pointed out that due to strong winds, trees have fallen on houses resulting in the death of two persons while 23 houses have suffered damaged. Relief was being paid as per government guidelines, said Mr. Venkataraja. The DC said that areas prone to landslides and floods, have been identified by the Geological Survey of India and the fire department, police rescue teams, and home guards were on a standby to deal with any exigency. In all, 43 flood-prone and 44 landslide-prone areas have been identified, said the Deputy Commissioner. Attention of the officials was also drawn to the condition of school and college buildings and they were instructed to bring any issues related to structural instability etc, to the higher authorities. The district in charge secretary called for proper implementation of the midday meal schools and ksheera bhagya and called for re-enrolment of children who have dropped out. The health department officials were instructed to open care centres in every GP limits and ensure availability of essential medicines in areas prone to disaster. In addition, emphasis should also be on tackling infectious diseases common during the monsoon season, the officials were told. The meeting was attended by senior officials of the district administration from various departments.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Hindu
DC: Public entry banned in waterbodies as heavy rains lash Kodagu
In view of heavy rains in Kodagu, Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja has issued orders banning public from entering waterbodies. Mr. Venkataraja issued the orders on Monday, which has come into immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice. As a precautionary measure to safeguard the public and infrastructure, the Deputy Commissioner has prohibited public and tourist entry to all waterfalls, rivers, streams, rivulets, public ponds, dams, and reservoir areas across Kodagu district. Swimming, diving, or undertaking any adventure activities in these waterbodies is strictly forbidden. Violations will attract penal action under Section 51(B) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, along with other relevant provisions of the law, the order said. Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner, who also heads the Regional Transport Authority, has restricted the movement of certain categories of heavy vehicles in the district from June 6 to July 5. The restriction applies to timber and sand transport vehicles, goods carriers with a registered weight exceeding 18,500 kg, bullet tankers, ship cargo containers, and long chassis (multi-axle) vehicles. Exemptions have been granted to essential service vehicles such as LPG and fuel supply trucks, milk delivery vehicles, government service vehicles, school and college buses, and public transport vehicles (including multi-axle buses). The decision comes in the backdrop of frequent landslides in Kodagu over the past few years during the monsoon, resulting in loss of life and damage to both public and private property. The district's hilly terrain, sharp curves, and steep gradients further amplify the risk. 'With the monsoon already setting in, increased soil moisture raises the likelihood of landslides if heavy vehicles are allowed to ply,' an official statement noted. In view of the curbs imposed on the movement of heavy vehicles, the Superintendent of Police has been authorised to install appropriate signage as per Section 116 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. Check posts will be set up at Kushalnagar and Sampaje on National Highway 275 to monitor compliance. Continuous surveillance through staff deployment and mobile patrol units has also been planned. Action will be taken against violators, the order warned, highlighting that the steps had been taken to prevent disasters and protect the fragile ecosystem and public infrastructure during the monsoon.
