Udupi: The onset of the monsoon usually brings natural disasters like landslides, flooding, inundation, and sea erosion to the coastal and Malnad regions.

These disruptions severely impact public life and cause losses running into crores of rupees. While the district administration prepares an estimated loss report every year and submits it to the government, hundreds of crores of rupees in compensation for the damage caused during the 2025 monsoon in Udupi district is yet to be released.

For the year 2025, a compensation of Rs 3,03,27,500 has been distributed through RGS for completely and partially damaged houses. Additionally, Rs 20 lakh was provided for four cases of loss of human life, and Rs 13.66 lakh was distributed for crop loss. However, a massive sum of Rs 134.2662 crore required for repairing various public infrastructures and properties remains unreleased.

Compensation from three years ago still pending!

During the 2023-24 financial year, the district recorded 3,525 mm of rainfall. Out of the Rs 17.70 crore estimated cost report submitted by the authority, funds were cleared for only a few damages.

Compensation is still awaited for several sectors: Rs 34.66 lakh for major district roads, Rs 5,52,12,000 for rural roads, Rs 98.40 lakh for urban roads, and Rs 15.60 lakh for bridges. Furthermore, Rs 1,34,85,000 for damaged electric poles, Rs 30.27 lakh for electricity lines, Rs 2.01 crore for transformers, Rs 2.60 crore for primary school buildings, Rs 1.45 crore for anganwadis and community halls, and Rs 12 lakh for primary health centres are yet to be released.

Out of the total damage during this period, Rs 4.5 crore was released as drought relief. After using a portion of this for drinking water projects in Brahmavar, Hebri, and Karkala taluks, the remaining surplus of Rs 3 crore was reserved for utilization in the 2024-25 financial year.

Status of 2024-25 compensation

The district recorded 5,261 mm of rainfall in 2024-25, leaving more than 1,000 houses damaged. During this season, three human lives and five cattle were lost, while three people sustained injuries. The government had released Rs 2,16,27,400 for damage to houses, cowsheds, and household items.

During the same period, a total loss of Rs 219.16 crore was incurred, covering anganwadis, schools, electric poles, power lines, health centres, bridges, footbridges, roads, and retaining walls. Although payments were cleared for most segments, an outstanding amount of Rs 6.13 crore for remaining public properties and over Rs 5.94 crore for crop loss remained pending.

Separately, out of the Rs 11,75,71,000 available in the Deputy Commissioner's Natural Disaster PD (Personal Deposit) account, Rs 2,16,27,000 was distributed to victims for loss of life, house damage, and other property losses. Later, from the Rs 5,54,29,000 grant released to the District Disaster Mitigation Fund, a proposal was submitted to the government seeking approval to construct 36 footbridges.