Mangaluru, Jul 6: Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan H V has said that 88 landslide-prone locations have been identified across the district, while District In-charge Minister U T Khader has directed the Department of School Education to ensure that classes are not conducted in dilapidated school buildings as the monsoon intensifies.

The announcements were made during a district-level review meeting on disaster management held in Mangaluru.

Highlighting the district’s preparedness for the rainy season, the Deputy Commissioner said notices have been issued under the Disaster Management Act in connection with mudslips caused by unauthorised hill cutting. He added that an FIR has also been registered against the owner in connection with the Naguri compound wall collapse that claimed three lives.

Khader instructed the Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) to ensure that students are not made to attend classes in unsafe classrooms. Officials from the Women and Child Development Department informed the meeting that 24 anganwadi buildings had been identified as dilapidated and that the centres had already been shifted to safer locations.

The Minister also assured that there is no shortage of funds to tackle rain-related emergencies in the district. He said Rs 374.76 lakh is currently available in PD accounts under the Taluk Disaster Management Fund and directed officials from the Urban Development Department, MESCOM, Forest Department and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department to work in close coordination to provide timely assistance to affected residents.

The Deputy Commissioner said the district recorded a 32 per cent rainfall deficit during the pre-monsoon period and a 41 per cent deficit from January till date.

Joint Director of Agriculture Honnappa Gowda said deficient rainfall in June had affected sowing and paddy transplantation. However, rainfall received over the past week has enabled transplantation in low-lying areas, while work in upland regions is yet to begin. He added that the district currently has 15,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser stock.

MLA Bhagirathi Murulya and MLC Kishore Kumar raised concerns that faulty rain gauges had prevented farmers from claiming crop insurance for losses suffered last year. Responding to the issue, the Deputy Commissioner said defective rain gauges are being replaced.

MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath and MLC Ivan D’Souza urged the government to construct retaining walls in landslide-prone areas of Mangaluru city and release the necessary funds. Kamath also sought annual dredging of river mouths where rajakaluves join rivers, saying silt accumulation contributes to urban flooding during heavy rains.

Khader further directed officials to prevent water stagnation in residential and public areas to curb mosquito breeding and instructed departments to take immediate action wherever stagnant water is found.

District Health Officer Dr H R Thimmaiah informed the meeting that 18 people had been tested for Hepatitis A in Dongerkery, while water samples had been collected for laboratory analysis, with reports awaited.

Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Ravichandra Naik said the civic body’s tests found no contamination in the city’s drinking water supply and added that a third-party water quality assessment would also be conducted.

The Minister also instructed officials to maintain hygiene in government-run hostels by ensuring regular cleaning of water tanks and safe preparation of food.

On the occasion, Khader presented appreciation letters under the Good Samaritan initiative to those who assisted families during the Naguri compound wall collapse tragedy.