Estuary blockage causes artificial flooding

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 31, 2018: Flooding, artificially caused due to chocking of estuary at Bettampady in Someshwara inundated many houses in the vicinity, on October 30, Tuesday.

After monsoon, water stagnates near the estuary. Along with waves, sand dunes also get collected and thus block the estuary. The panchayat clears  the channels with the help of excavators, to ensure that water flows freely in to the sea. Unfortunately, the work on clearing the channels was neglected this season  leading to inundation of the entire vicinity.

Fearing the illegal sand extraction norms, the excavators do not accept the work, said villagers. Due to blockade, water level increased, leaving the residents trapped in their houses. Even a railway underbridge had been inundated, forcing the residents to walk beside the railway track.

Highlighting the prevailing condition, Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike President Siddiq Talapady had posted a video clip on social media. Tahsildar Guruprasad rushed to the spot and directed Panchayat officials to initiate measures to clear the block.

Someshwar Gram Panchayat President Rajesh Ucchil said that the panchayat had been initiating measures to clear the block in estuary every year. "We had not received complaint on blockage this year. The block in the estuary had resulted in marooning of the houses. The Gram Panchayat will initiate measures to clear the blocks," he promised.