Storm drains in city yet to see proper desilting work

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 28, 2019: With the SW monsoon on the horizon and in sight as per official notices, work on desilting the storm drains, repairing the drains and other emergency work has been incomplete in the MCC limits.

 

Improper work  at many places are seen and the public is complaining that the work is being done only for paper action.  An example for this is the desilting work done along the biggest storm drain in the city which flows via Kadri, Ballabagh, Alape and Kudroli. There is no doubt that the storm drain desilting work has been done only in name and is a public eye wash.  The contractors have failed to do the desilting work effectively. Due to this, there is a possibility that of potential flooding during this monsoon.

Even after repeated pleas from the public, MCC has failed to close the main roadside drains. Open drains pose a serious threat to the safety of pedestrians, especially the elderly and children. No barricades have been installed to warn the public. The officials, district administration and elected representatives have turned a blind eye to the problems faced by the pedestrians. Swaccha Bharath and Smart City concept are not followed by the municipality. It is sheer negligence on the part of officials.

 
The work on clearing the drains has been abandoned half-way. The region gets heavy downpour in early June. The stretch from Ambedkar Circle (Jyothi) to Bunts Hostel has been getting inundated due to artificial floods the past three to four years. This year, the MCC has taken up the work on stormwater drains on the stretch and the work is moving at a snail’s pace. The work on the drains should be completed at the earliest, say many concerned citizens.