Kodagu ZP CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena
By P.T. Bopanna
Even as Kodagu district is facing a plethora of problems following three years of back-to-back landslides, the district is without a full-time deputy commissioner.
After the previous DC Annies Joy went on a long leave, Kodagu zilla panchayat chief executive officer Bhanwar Singh Meena (in picture), IAS, has been made the in-charge deputy commissioner.
Ravaged by three years of floods and landslides, Kodagu roads are in a bad shape. Most of the works, especially road works happen during the January-March quarter in the district as all the works come to a near standstill after the monsoon sets in from June.
With tourists returning to the district after a year-long lull following the corona pandemic, the road works have to be completed on a priority.
Coffee growers are in distress following floods and unseasonal rains. Growers have not received compensation for crop losses.
Though the previous two DCs, including Sreevidya P.I. and Annies Joy, were able officials, both of them went on leave abruptly for “family reasons”, putting the administration in disarray.
The Karnataka chief secretary should immediately post a full-time DC. An official who is sensitive towards environmental issues should be posted. The previous DC had taken up major construction projects at Raja Seat, a tourist spot in Madikeri, known to be vulnerable to landslides.