Udupi : District In-charge Minister Pramod Madhwaraj said that a proposal for Rs 7.50 crore would be submitted to the government to set up a permanent rehabilitation centre for endosulfan victims in Udupi.

He was speaking at an endosulfan general committee meeting here on Wednesday.

Five acre land would be required to set up a permanent centre. Highest number of endosulfan victims in Udupi district are in Kundapur taluk. The centre can be set up in Kundapur itself, he said and directed Baindur tahsildar to identify land for the same.

The minister also directed Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) to furnish details on the schools that have more than 10 acre land in Baindur block.

He directed all the departments to work in cordination while distributing benefits for endosulfan victims. The yardstick used in Dakshina Kannada for identifying endosulfan victims should be followed in Udupi as well.

A survey of those victims who have been left out from the previous survey should be taken up.

He urged the officials to clear the applications of the endosulfan victims seeking monthly pension without any delay. Measures should also be taken to distribute bus passes for the endosulfan victims.

District health officer (DHo) Dr Rohini said that 28 screenings camps have been conducted to include all those victims who have been left out in the previous survey. There are 1,328 endosulfan victims in the district. At present, monthly pension is being given for 1,295 victims.

Zilla panchayat president Dinakara Babu, vice president Sheela Shetty and chief executive officer Priyanka Mary Francis were present.