The stench emanating from Kalsanka storm-water drain, from where most of the rain water during the monsoon is carried and drained into the Arabian Sea, is unbearable at the Kalsanka Circle.
The Kalsanka Circle is one of main junctions in the city, where the roads coming from Gundibail, Manipal, Sri Krishna Mutt and Bannanje meet. There is an autorickshaw stand at the entrance of the road leading to the Sri Krishna Mutt. The foul smell is unbearable from here to the Rajangana Parking Lot, through which the storm water drain passes.
The residents allege that sewage discharged by houses into the storm-water drain was responsible for the pollution and stench coming from it.
Nagesh Bhat, a resident, said that discharging sewage directly into the storm-water drain was responsible for stench and swarm of mosquitoes. “If the sewage keeps moving, it does not smell much,” he said.
Vinod, an autorickshaw driver, said that a new bridge was constructed over the storm-water drain at Kalsanka, a few years ago. The bed of the bridge had been constructed a little higher than the ground, hence the sewage water was not flowing but getting accumulated. “Though the matter had been brought to the notice of the authorities, their solutions were piecemeal,” he said.
As a lot of silt had accumulated in the storm-water drain, the Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC) took up and completed dredging to clean it up with an earthmoving equipment a couple of weeks ago.
Despite this, a lot of plastic bags, bottles and other material can be found floating on the sewage water in this storm water drain. “People come in the nights and throw garbage in the drain, clogging it,” Mr. Bhat said.
According to CMC president P. Yuvaraj, the council would soon take up the task of removing soil, plastic and other garbage material floating in the drain. “Some sewage water from Krishna Mutt also is flowing into the storm water drain," he said. As there was no proper underground drainage (UGD) in the area, the CMC has decided to set up a proper drainage network.
