Residents of Kottara Chowki, Kuloor and surrounding areas, who have faced a flood-like situation in the past due to shrinking ‘thodus’ (large stormwater drains) and water logging because of land filling, have a new challenge to grapple with.
They are now worried about an upcoming hotel building encroaching upon a ‘thodu’ in the same area.
The owner of the hotel building is being accused of allowing filling a portion of the one-km long stormwater drain that cuts across the land in Bangra Kuloor. The residents are worried as this has blocked the flow of water in the 50-ft wide natural stormwater drain that carries water from Kuloor, Rayakatte and surrounding areas. This natural drain joins another drain carrying water from Kavoor, Shantinagar and Akashbhavan to join the Netravathi.
Khaleel, a resident of Kavoor, said that construction workers used earth movers to fill mud in the stormwater drain. Nearly 50 metre of the drain was levelled. Further up the drain, earth movers were used to fill mud and narrow it down. “It is sad that the civic authorities have turned a blind eye to this act which would result in flooding,” he said.
Noushad, a resident of Panjimogaru, said the owner of the hotel tried to fill the area last year. Following a representation, the then Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim visited the area that was followed by visits of surveyors and the Mangaluru City Corporation officials. “There seems to be no follow-up action after the visit of officials,” he said. Panjimogaru ward councillor Dayanand Shetty, who is also the district president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India, wrote to Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha on December 7 asking him to intervene into the issue.
Mayor Harinath and MCC commissioner Mohammed Nazir said they were not aware of the issue. “I will send a team of officers soon to inspect the site. I will inquire into the issue,’ Mr. Harinath told The Hindu .
