You can use Shiradi Ghat road from July 5
Mangaluru, June 19: PWD Minister HD Revanna said that as the second phase work which is under progress on Shiradi Ghat road would complete in a couple of days and it would be made free for vehicular movement before July 5.
Speaking to reporters after holding a progress review meeting and verifying the rain damage in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, at the zilla panchayat hall here on Tuesday, Revanna said that there are some ghat section roads in Charmadi, Sampaje, Shiradi ghats and from Subramanya to Onaguru. Because of fly-over construction by the National Highway Authority, the Mangaluru city has some problems. Steps would be taken to solve those problems. In order to construct an all season road in Charmadi ghat, the department would require around Rs 250 crore and a detailed proposal would be submitted to the central government and priority would also be given to develop Shiradi, Sampaje, Onaguru roads, he said.
Drainage facility should be provided to the road which connects Sampaje, Puttur and Sullia from BC Road. He would direct the authorities concerned to conduct meetings with the Forest department officials and take steps to complete the work without posing problem to the forest and the people, he added.
Fly over problem to be sorted out
He got the information that because of the delayed work of the flyovers by the national highway authority (NHA), most of the places in Pumpwell and Thokkottu were inundated in rainwater during heavy rains that lashed the city recently. Even the Udupi district also has the same problem. So, he would direct the Department Secretary to come and conduct meetings of officials of both the districts and solve the problem, he said.
Rain damage: Funds released
The loss of damage to the PWD roads due to rains in both Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts was estimated at Rs 6 crore and Rs 1.20 crore respectively. If the both the districts submitted the proposal for the compensation, he would release the funds immediately, he said.
Over 200 km road in Belthangady taluk is being maintained by the PWD. Now, most of the roads were damaged due to heavy rains. As the Shiradi Ghat is also closed, the traffic movement was heavy in state highways due to which they were damaged. So, the PWD roads should be upgraded, MLA Harish Poonja demanded.
MLA Sanjeeva Marandur said that the road from Bantwala to Sullia does not have drainage facility. So, rainwater flows on the road. In Moodbidri, total 106 km road is coming under PWD. Because of the rain-related damage, total Rs 2.5 crore loss was estimated, he said.
MLA Umanath Kotian said that almost all PWD roads in Dakshina Kannada district were damaged in the rains and steps should be taken to repair them immediately.
Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that the district incurred a loss of Rs 19 crore including Rs 6 crore of PWD property, due to rain-related damages.
Because of heavy rains, many landsliding incidents were reported in the district. Due to landslides in ghat sections and hilly ranges, several houses were damaged. So, there is a need to take separate survey to construct retention walls to avoid landslides, the DC suggested.
Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Merry Francis said that the NHAI has been constructing flyover near Padubidri for the last two years. Because of the delay in completion of works, this problem occurred. In the same way, the fly over work is going on a snail’s pace at Karavali By-pass and Kundapura Junction. In Udupi district, the damage was estimated at Rs 12 crore including Rs 1.17 crore of PWD department, she said.
Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Dr MR Ravi, Udupi ZP CEO Shivanand Kapase, Mangaluru Police Commissioner T R Suresh, Chief Engineer Srinivas, KRDCL MD Ganesh and others were present at the meeting.
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Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
