MLA asks corporation to focus on landslip-prone areas and under-construction buildings ahead of Monsoon

Mangaluru MLA urges immediate action to prevent landslides and floods in preparation for the upcoming Monsoon season.

Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath on Thursday, April 17, directed Mangaluru City Corporation to give special attention to landslip-prone areas immediately to prevent any untoward incident during the upcoming Monsoon.

Participating in a Monsoon preparation review meeting at the corporation office here, Mr. Kamath said attention should also be given to buildings under-construction. Landslips at Ketthikal, Bajal and other areas during last Monsoon had caused much concern.

Moreover, areas on Netravathi and Phalguni (Gurupura) riverbanks were likely to be affected by artificial floods if storm water drains were not properly desilted, he said. The MLA also said at many places in Attavar, Yemmekere and other areas in his constituency, people have encroached upon rajakaluves and built houses. The corporation should immediately act against such encroachments that have reduced the width of drains.

Commissioner Ravichandra Naik said the corporation has commenced silt removal work from all kinds of storm water drains, minor and major. He said personnel were directed to transport the silt after removing it. Mr. Naik also said the corporation has set up ward-wise task forces to deal with calamities during the monsoon as per the direction of Deputy Commissioner M.P. Mullai Muhilan, who is the administrator of the corporation.

Meanwhile, Mr. Muhilan in a statement here said any default in silt removal would attract action against officials concerned. Silt from all storm-water drains--shoulder, major and rajakaluves--should immediately be removed to facilitate free flow of rainwater, he said.

He also directed MCC officials to identify and penalise people who throw solid waste into rainwater drains while urging the public to refrain from choking the drains by throwing waste into them.