Villages vulnerable to floods will be shifted permanently, says Minister in Bagalkot

Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar distributing food kits to fire victims at Iddalagi village in Bagalkot district on Tuesday (September 1). | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The State government will take steps to shift to safer places the villages that are vulnerable to floods, Bagalkot district in-charge Minister Vijayanand Kashappanavar told reporters in the district on September 2, 2026.On September 1, 2026, he visited the families whose sheds were damaged in a fire at Iddalagi village in Hunagund taluk. “I have told the victims that steps will be taken to completely shift vulnerable villages like Iddalagi. I inspected the damage caused by the fire and consoled the affected families. We distributed food kits to the families. The district administration will set up relief camps till their sheds are rebuilt and establishment of the rehabilitated villages is complete,” he said. As many as 28 sheds of flood victims were burnt in the accidental fire on August 31, 2026.“The flood victims have been living in temporary sheds for many years. The fire incident completely destroyed the foodgrains, clothes, stationery and important documents that they had kept in their sheds. After a comprehensive assessment of the damage by officials, action will be taken to provide appropriate compensation to the victims as per the government rules. Urgent action will be taken to construct a temporary shed at the same place until the affected families are relocated,’’ he said.Mr. Kashappanavar stated that there has been some delay in the distribution of land titles to the victims and the provision of basic facilities at the rehabilitation centre. However, steps will be taken to completely evacuate the village by providing the necessary infrastructure. The main demand of the victims is that each family should be given four guntas of land instead of one gunta. The demands of the victims will be brought to the notice of the government and necessary changes will be made in the existing order, the Minister promised.“I have requested the Chief Minister to visit the district to study the drought situation in the district, and fulfill the demands of the victims . He is likely to visit on September 4, 2026,’’ he said.On August 31, 2026, fire damage victims had raised slogans against Deputy Commissioner Sangappa for not fulfilling their demands for permanent resettlement and rehabilitation. They also said that no officer had met them when they earlier staged a protest for 118 days in Bagalkot.The Minister said the victims had ended the protest after he assured them of quick relief. Published - September 02, 2026 11:39 pm IST