DC comes down heavily on drain encroachers

DHNS

Mangalore, 18 June 2010: Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj has informed that stringent action will be taken against people who block the drainages for selfish purposes. 

 
In a press release, the DC has stated that a number of such instances were noted in the Mangalore City Corporation limits and were instantly sorted out by the authorities.

The National Highway culvert got blocked near Navadurga Garage at Kannur leading to a flood on the northern side of National Highway. Project Director, National Highway Authority of India was given time till Thursday evening to remove the blockage, failing which, a portion of the National Highway will be cut open to drain off the water, the DC said.

At the same time, nearby the drain which has to take the water further to Netravathi is of 30 feet as per record. However, private parties have formed roads and built compound walls and the drain doesn’t exist now. Surveyor has been asked to identify and fix the boundary and the Assistant Commissioner, Mangalore and Assistant Executive Engineer, Mangalore City Corporation have been asked to demolish the compounds and structures to recover the age old drain which is 30 feet in width. The Revenue Inspector has already lodged a police complaint against the Owners of Chiravith Precision (India) Ltd for having encroached the drain.

The unscientific culvert extension by NHAI has completely blocked the water flow from the hillock on northernside of the drain near Bairadikere between Kannur and Padil. The rainwater from Kulshekar and Maroli also drain off in huge quantity through this drain.

The small vent given by NHAI was not enough, leading to water stagnation and water entering the National Highway. Traffic was also cut off for almost 45 minutes here on Thursday morning.  Hence, the culvert extension portion was cut open to facilitate the water flow freely. Already, this flooding lead to water entering 8 houses and National Authority of India has been instructed to redesign the culvert.

Blockage of cross drain at Ujjodi near Nirmala Garage has led to water entering into 10 to 15 houses for the last 4 days causing a lot of problem to residents. This blockage is because of Nirmala Tyres and Service Station owner having completely buried 2 huge main drains in his compound to expand his service station area.

Since, the drains are buried and got choked up without any maintenance, there was flooding. This was cleared with 2 JCBs, working for the last 3 days. Along with opening the drain, whatever land was encroached by the Service Station is being removed and the drain is made free. The blockage of another drain near Steel Centre in Ujjodi was also cleared through the same kind of operation.

In another case, a resident had tried to block the drain using a JCB and truck to prevent water coming near his compound thus causing flooding many houses. The truck and JCB have been seized and handed over to police. MCC has been directed to lodge a complaint against the said party for damaging public property, the DC explained in the press release. He also requested the public to help the authorities prevent and unearth similar encroachments in order to prevent trouble to the entire locality.