Jokatte: Houses are facing threat as hills tumbling down
►High tension wires also posing threat ►Residents vacating their houses during nights
Mangaluru, September 2: In recent days, a hill near Jokatte on the border of Kenjaru gram panchayat and Thokuru 62 is collapsing. As a result, four-five houses nearby the hill are facing the threat. Meanwhile, the KPTCL has erected a high tension power line tower on the same hill and the collapse of the tower cannot be ruled out if the hill tumbled down. Because of this fear, the residents have been staying in their relatives houses during nights. But neither the district administration nor the elected representatives took it seriously, people alleged.
A big hill is situated just beside the railway track at Jokatte. The high tension power line which pases to MRPL from Kavoor passed on the same hill and a tower is also situated on the hill. Though there is a retention wall in the bottom of the hill, the hill is slowing sliding down due to which, the retention wall developed a crack. This has created panic among people in the nearby houses.
The high tension wire passed on a private school and if the tower collapsed, the wires would fall on the school building inviting danger. The KPTCL is playing with the life of the students, the local people alleged.
“A 110 kv power line is passed through this tower from Kavoor to MRPL. We came to know about the problem just two days before. Suddenly, we disconnected the power and planning for alternative arrangement. Besides repairing the towers, we will also erect new towers if needed. But it will take minimum 47 days. We will see to it that the local people will not get any trouble”.
-Anil, KPTCL officer, Mangaluru
“People have been finding it difficult to live there for the last few days. We have informed the officials concerned. Based on that, the officers have disconnected the power and started their work after Thursday afternoon. The authorities should find solution to the problem as early as possible”.
-Muneer Katipalla, DYFI state president
“Heavy rain has been lashing the region for the last couple of days due to which, the hill is sliding. We are in the danger situation. If the hill is collapsed further, then we will have further problem. Women, children and aged people are there. Where shall we take them?”
-Abdul Kareem, resident
“We will not in a position to stay at home regularly. We can spend day time, but it is difficult to assume what will happen during night. We have informed the KPTCL and gram panchayat authorities about this issue. But nothing is done”.
-Abdul Khadar, Jokatte
“Literally, we are counting our days. We cannot stay in our homes during nights. So, we are going to our relatives houses to sleep. None of the authorities have responded to our problems so far. Neither the officials nor the elected representatives turned towards it”.
Abubakar Bava, resident
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
