Madikeri: The dark clouds that had gathered following the recent floods in Kodagu has still not cleared and it affected even the joyous celebration of Gowri-Ganesha festival. The relief centres where hundreds of people are still sheltered wears a gloomy look.

However, Kodagu District in-Charge Minister S.R. Mahesh  rose to the occasion and made their lives a bit more cheerful by distributing silk sarees to women, dresses to children and shirt and pant to men in 17 relief centres on Gowri Festival day.

Mahesh distributed clothes at Maithri Samudaya Bhavan in Madikeri to the shelterless and also savoured kesaribath with the inmates.

Later, speaking to the media, he said that already the State Government had identified 20 acres of land belonging to Horticulture and Agriculture Departments.

Apart from this, 30 acres of land has been identified in five Panchayat limits. In Madikeri town, 500 houses have to be built and for this, forest land near the town has been identified, the Minister said.

For those who come forward to build houses on their own, Government is going to give Rs.6 lakh. But if people want the Government to construct houses, it will not only do it but also pay for the house rents till the permanent houses are built, he said and promised that the new houses will be constructed within ten months.