Newly constructed dams in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi pose no safety risks at present: Report
Mangaluru: The district authorities reportedly said that the newly constructed dams in Dakshina Kannada are structurally sound and currently pose no safety risks.
An executive engineer from Mangaluru City Corporation mentioned that regular maintenance is conducted in advance of the monsoon season to ensure all structures remain intact. “Thumbe vented dam, being a newly built structure, has so far not exhibited any signs of cracks or damage. We have written to a Bengaluru-based government-affiliated firm to conduct a safety inspection of the dam,” The New Indian Express quoted the official as saying.
The official further noted that contingency measures, including the installation of stop-log gates and a retaining wall, have been implemented to manage emergencies in the event of a failure of the main gates.
Similarly, the AMR Dam, under the Mangalore Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), has a storage capacity of 12.5 million cubic metres at a height of 18.9 metres, has also been declared safe by the authorities.
The Harekala dam, managed by the irrigation department and constructed in recent years, has not shown any signs of structural distress, officials added.
Other key infrastructures, such as the Jakribettu bridge-cum-barrage in Bantwal and the Saralikatte dam downstream of Uppinangady across the Nethravati river, are maintained on a quarterly basis to ensure structural integrity.
“There are 471 major and minor vented dams across Dakshina Kannada. We have received no reports of damage to any of these dams due to sand mining,” TNIE quoted an executive engineer of the district irrigation department.
According to a KPCL official, the Mani Dam, built across the Varahi river in 1989 and maintained by KPCL, also remains in good condition, supported by regular maintenance and adequate funding.
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Karnataka: Home Department asks motorists to drive on highways with caution to avoid robbery
Belagavi: The Home Department has advised motorists to stay alert while travelling on national and state highways, warning that gangs involved in robbery and extortion have been active in several stretches. It said people should be extra cautious if anyone tries to stop their vehicle in isolated areas.
Replying to an unstarred question on Thursday, the department said Karnataka has recorded 403 highway robbery cases in the past three years. According to the data, national highways saw 81 extortion and 23 robbery cases in 2023, followed by 66 extortion and 16 robbery cases in 2024. Until November 15 this year, 51 extortion and 14 robbery cases have been reported.
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On state highways, 39 extortion and 17 robberies were reported in 2023, while 2024 saw 35 extortion and 22 robbery cases. In 2025 so far, 20 extortion and 19 robbery cases have taken place. The department noted that curbing highway robberies remains a major challenge for the police.
To tackle the issue, police stations have been directed to set up regular checkpoints on stretches of highways passing through their limits. Suspicious individuals and vehicles are being checked. Two-wheelers have been allocated to every station for night patrol, and staff have been instructed to conduct night rounds using vehicles fitted with sirens and red lights.
