Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 7: A massive landslide of garbage dump at Pacchanady has taken place, due to the incessant rains on Tuesday, August 6.
Huge portion of land, along with the garbage dump slid down to the agricultural area at Mandara near Pacchanady resulting in damage to houses and acres of agricultural land. The locals are in distress after several acres of their agricultural land was damaged completely due to the garbage dump landslide.
Since several years, people located in and around Pacchanady garbage dumping yard are facing lot of hardships due to foul smell, unscientific disposal of waste etc. Due to this, children to elderly, face health issues quite often. But this is the first time that the residents have witnessed garbage dump landslides, which has led to destruction of agricultural land.
According to locals, close to three acres of agricultural land has been damaged. As many as 1,500 arecanut trees, two wells and one pump shed are submerged under heaps of garbage that rolled onto the land.
Mangaluru City Corporation officials arrived to the spot and took all kinds of measures to clear the garbage. But it seems like a herculean task to clear such huge mountains of garbage covering up to three acres of agricultural land.
From the garbage collected in the agricultural land, sewage has flown onto the remaining agricultural land, leading to foul smell all over the place. The damaged land belongs to Nagamma, Sulochani, Sumathi and Ram Bhat where they have lost about three acres of agricultural land and a house.
Speaking to daijiworld.com Mohammed Nazir said, "Due to heavy rain over the last two days, there has been a heavy garbage dump landslide. The garbage is now collected below the hill on the agricultural land damaging it. Officials are taking steps to clear the garbage as soon as possible.”
Former mayor Bhaskar Moily said, "The agricultural land is completely damaged due to the garbage dump landslide. Officials have arrived and measures are being taken to clear all the garbage immediately. We have to even look into compensation for those who have lost lands.”
Speaking to daijiworld.com, local Karunakar said, "I have not seen such mishap before. During summer, the garbage catches fire. Even children and elderly face health issues due to the foul smell that emanates from the garbage dump. We have submitted memorandums several times highlighting the issues, but till date, no one has responded. The whole agricultural land is damaged. Officials have given assurance of compensation. But do they keep up their promise? They never turn to this area to see the progress of any measures taken to address our issues.”
Speaking to daijiworld.com, another local Ravindra Bhat said, "These officials look only for temporary solution. There is no permanent solution for our problem. The garbage is disposed unscientifically and huge mountains of garbage are formed. So far, three acres of agricultural land is swallowed by the garbage. If rain continues, there will more damage.”