Rs 1,200-crore underground drainage plan proposed for Mangaluru City: DC Darshan H.V.

Rs 1,200-crore underground drainage plan proposed for Mangaluru City: DC Darshan H.V.

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 18, 2025: To streamline the underground drainage (UGD) system in the Mangaluru City Corporation limits—which has been causing inconvenience to the public due to the flow of sewage from houses and apartments—a comprehensive project costing ₹1,200 crore is being prepared, said Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V.

The Deputy Commissioner, who is also the Administrator of the Mangaluru City Corporation, shared this information while responding to media queries during a phone-in programme held at the Mayor’s chamber of the Corporation on Friday, where public grievances were received.

Several callers complained that sewage from houses and apartments was being let into stormwater drains and that untreated wastewater was entering major canals.

There are rules mandating the maintenance of separate sewage treatment plants (STPs) during the construction of apartments. However, older apartments lack such facilities, and in many new apartments, STPs are either non-functional or poorly maintained, leading to problems. Hence, a comprehensive UGD plan for the city is being prepared based on the projected population for the next six years. Meetings have already been held with the District In-charge Minister, and discussions have also taken place with the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. Steps are being taken to present the project in the upcoming budget, the Deputy Commissioner said.

During the phone-in, a caller named Ramaiah complained that private buses operating on his route (Route No. 9) were skipping trips in the morning and at night, and that KSRTC services on the route had also been discontinued.

Responding to this, Darshan said that 100 electric government buses have been sanctioned to Mangaluru city by the Central and State governments.

Tenders for the supply of the buses have been finalised, and 50 per cent of the buses will arrive in the city in the first phase by March, with the remaining buses to be supplied within the next three months in the second phase. Arrangements are being made at two locations in the city for parking and charging, including infrastructure development. Additional bus drivers have also been recruited and are currently undergoing training, he added.

A total of 30 calls were received during the phone-in programme. The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officials to visit the locations, verify minor issues on the spot, and take necessary action.

Corporation Commissioner Ravichandra Naik, along with other senior and junior officials of the City Corporation, were present.

Major issues raised by the public:

* Sewage is being discharged into an open drain near Police Lane, along with an increasing problem of stray dogs.

* At Kottara Chowki, vehicles move at very high speed in the mornings, causing problems for walkers. Waste is being dumped along the roadside, and maintenance is inadequate.

* Sewage is flowing into the Rajakaluve near a house in Ekkur, causing unbearable stench, mosquito menace and making it difficult for residents to step outside. Though complaints are made to the Corporation, silt removed from the drain is dumped nearby and eventually flows back into the canal.

* No zebra crossing has been provided near Kavoor Junction.

* At Naguri, sewage is being let into stormwater drains, causing severe foul smell.

* In areas such as Ladyhill, Gorigudda and Bondel, streetlights remain switched on from 4.30 pm to 8 am. Despite informing the concerned engineer, no corrective action has been taken.

* Garbage is being transferred from small waste collection vehicles to larger vehicles at several places along main roads. A designated location needs to be fixed for this activity.

* Under the Jalajeevan Mission, pipelines have been laid, but water supply has not begun even though the water meter is running.

* At Doomappa Compound in Pandeshwar, sewage water is entering houses despite repeated complaints, with no solution so far.

During the tenure of elected representatives in the Mangaluru City Corporation, phone-in programmes were regularly held by the Mayor to hear public grievances. The term of the elected body ended on February 27, 2025, after which, as per rules, the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner took charge as the Administrator. This was the first phone-in programme conducted by the Deputy Commissioner in nearly 10 months.

Mother seeks DC’s intervention to retrieve daughter’s academic documents

A woman from Kottara Chowki called the Deputy Commissioner seeking justice, stating that her daughter—who had secured good marks—was admitted to a private college in the city for BSc Nursing, and the fees had been paid. Later, after securing a seat under the government quota, the daughter shifted to another college. However, the private college where she was initially admitted has refused to return the original academic documents, despite repeated requests over the past four to five months. The woman urged the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that at least the original documents are returned, even if the fees are not refunded.

Stray dog rehabilitation

Deputy Commissioner Darshan H.V. said that in line with Supreme Court directions and State government guidelines, steps are being taken across all local bodies to rehabilitate stray dogs based on a dog census. Locations near waterways and in Bondanthila area have been inspected. A minimum of 10 acres of land is required for rehabilitation. In the first phase, land is being identified within the limits of Mangaluru, Mulki and Ullal. In the second phase, land will also be identified in Mangaluru North and Mangaluru South, and the government will be approached for the required funds, he said.