Residents unhappy due to lack of efforts to clean Gujjarakere

Residents unhappy due to lack of efforts to clean Gujjarakere

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 17,2016: Residents of Jeppu on Aug 16, Tuesday expressed anguish over the lack of efforts by officials in cleaning the Gujjarakere, which is one of the biggest and oldest water body in the city. The residents, including members of the Gujjarakere Theerta Samrakshana Vedike, expressed displeasure with the state of affairs, to MLC Ivan D’Souza, who visited the lake.

Nemu Kottary from the vedike said that the condition of the lake has not changed a bit since 2001, though a large amount of money has been spent in the name of cleaning. Though the officials agreed that there was seepage of sewage water into the lake, they have so far not taken action to stop it, he said.

Activist Suresh Shetty said that seepage of sewage from the open drain into the lake has also not been addressed so far.   An official from the Minor Irrigation Department told MLC. D’Souza that Rs. 1 crore has been sanctioned by the State government for cleaning the lake. They had cleared hyacinth in the lake and stopped the work eight months ago because of seepage of sewage water into the lake. Unless the MCC, Mangaluru City Corporation addressed the problem, they cannot go ahead with their work. They had spent Rs. 8 lakh for clearing hyacinth, the  official said.

A corporation official said that an estimate of Rs. 49 lakh has been proposed for laying a new sewage line from Jeppu to Mulihitlu. The work would start in another two months.

MLC  D’Souza assured residents of keeping track of the Gujjarakere work. “Legislature  sessions are not to be held till December. I will keep a close track of the progress of work. I assure you all of swetting things right,” he said. He  directed corporation officials to study seepage of sewage from the open drain and propose a solution.