Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 21: Although most of the local administrations have woken up to the urgency of identifying defunct borewells and taking steps to close them, having been shaken out of their slumber by the tragedy which claimed the life of a four-year-old girl in Bijapur, the municipality here appears to be unconcerned about the issue. It continues to feign ignorance about the existence of tubewells within its jurisdiction, which have the potential of becoming death traps anytime.

One such borewell is located in the heart of the town on main road thorugh which national highway passes, since about a year. This borewell is located on the other side of the main road opposite Krishna Katte. About a year back, another borewell had been dug by the side of existing one, and it was connected to a pump. While doing so, the municipality failed to close the existing borewell with mud.

This spot is located in the auto park in front of the municipal market, where movement of people is considerable. People coming to hire auto rickshaws as well as those who alight from three-wheelers use this point. The auto drivers exhibited their social responsibility by placing a huge stone over this borewell, but the stone went missing within a few days. It need not come as a surprise if the rag pickers take away the iron pipe of this tubewell in course of time.

A pump house located by the side of this tubewell, which looks like a shed, is in dilapidated condition. Electric wires providing power supply to this shed are always seen dangling dangerously. They precariously stoop veru low, and it appears they can get snapped and drop to the ground anytime, endangering lives and property. Both the municipality and Mescom need to wake up to the dangers posed by the shed and borewell and take steps to safeguard lives and property before the situation gives rise to tragedy.

The problem of another borewell and a dangerous pit surrounding it exists at Paper Mill Junction in Prantya ward of the town. This spot is located about ten metres away by the side of Moodbidri-Bantwal Road, and only a few feet away from Prantya primary and high school. This tubewelll, which was in operation for several years, had gone dry about eight months back. Another borewell was dug near the spot thereafter, but no steps were taken to make the old borewell harmless. This borewell stood dangerously for several months before its mouth was closed with the help of gunny bag and stones. The pit around this borewell however, continues to expose school children to the risk of falling into it.

There is a minor bridge nearby. During the rainy season, many a time the borewell and its pit get submerged in water, and the area looks like a flat surface. People who might step aside to escape from vehicles which are driven on the road edge, can accidentally fall into this pit, under these circumstances, and face grave danger.