Even as Mangaluru City Corporation was caught napping with artificial floods choking vehicular movement in the city, Monday’s heavy rain has exposed the civic body’s ill-preparedness for the imminent monsoon.
While clogged drains led to waterlogging in many areas in the city, road repair and water works started just before the monsoon season added to the woes of motorists and pedestrians.
The flooding of the busy stretch between Balmatta Junction and Ambedkar Junction was an instance of poor drainage system in the city. The clogging of the shoulder drain prevented smooth flow of water into the drain and thus resulted in flooding of the whole stretch. Late on Monday night, civic personnel had to create an opening near the bus stand and allow the water to flow into the drain.
Mangaladevi Road near Srinivas College was under water as the drainage pipe was located above the road level. “This slowed down draining of water into the storm-water drain. This problem has been there for a long time and it has not been addressed,” said S. Khader, a resident of Pandeshwar. A similar problem was experienced near the Social Welfare Department’s hostel at PVS Circle where the shoulder drain is above the road level.
Incomplete road works have also added to woes of pedestrians.
The corporation has not completed the work of laying a culvert near the busy Rao and Rao Circle even after taking up the work two years ago.
The corporation took up the work related to shifting the valve near the busy Lady Hill Circle a week ago. The work of widening the Bhavanti Street between Central Market and Car Street was taken up a few days ago.
“We cannot understand the logic behind the corporation taking up works just before the onset of monsoon,” S. Bekal, a resident of Bhavanti Street, said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Kavita Sanil on Tuesday visited Ambedkar Junction and other places that saw flooding on Monday.
