Pics: Nithin Raj Kotian
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru, Aug 14: Mandara area of Pacchanady in the city, which was once covered with lush green plants, is fully submerged now due to the garbage landslide. Last week, due to heavy rainfall, garbage at the dumping yard at Pacchanady suffered severe landslide, which damaged the nearby farmland and houses.
Around 10 acres of area consisting of houses, areca nut trees and coconut trees is completely submerged under heaps of garbage. It is said that the garbage is nearly 20 years old and the residents in the nearby areas are living in a pathetic state, unable to bear the stench of the garbage.
The garbage has flown to a distance of up to two kilometres and the havoc is expected to continue as more rain is expected in coming days.
Deputy commissioner Sasikant Senthil, MLAs Bharath Y Shetty and Umanath Kotian and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel have visited the spot and were shocked to see the havoc caused due to the garbage landslide.
Close to 5,000 areca trees, 1,000 coconut trees have been submerged under the garbage. The garbage landslide does not seem to be stopping and expected to swallow more agricultural land.
District administration has made arrangement, on a temporary basis, for the residents of Mandara area at Baithurli. Even the drains and wells close by are contaminated completely and sewage water is flowing at high speed.
The entire Mandara area is emanating foul smell and the residents are shedding tears of pain of losing their houses and land and are made to shift to other places forsaking their own houses.
Even the health officials are frequently visiting the spot and conducting various tests of water and monitoring health issues. District administration will now have to take the measures to provide compensation for the residents of Mandara.
Speaking to Daijiworld, Mandara Rajesh Bhat said, “Since one week, the garbage landslide has swallowed more than 10 acres of agricultural land. The 120 years old house, belonging to Mandara Bhat is totally submerged. This has happened due to the unscientific garbage disposal at Pacchanady. The garbage is not only collected from Mangaluru, but also from Bantwal, Manjeshwar, Ullal and other parts and dumped at Pacchanady. Earlier too, we have alerted the officials regarding this dumping yard but they seem to neglect the issue and did not take our alert very seriously.”
Social worker Ravindra Nayak Kudupu took to task the officials of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for the inconvenience that is caused to the locals living in the area around the garbage dumping yard at Pacchanady due to the irresponsibility of the MCC. The locals spat reportedly even on the face of Dr Manjaiah Shetty, health officer of MCC.
MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, “Since last week, we have witnessed the Pacchanady garbage land slide. Due to unscientific garbage disposal, the then government has not taken proper measures. The district in-charge minister failed to notice the problem and the then mayors also have not maintained it properly nor found solution to avoid such ‘man made’ calamity.
“The deputy commissioner will send a team to analyse the situation and find a permanent solution which can be more effective. Compensation should be given immediately. Based upon the detailed report given by the team, we will see how we can bring the situation to normalcy and avoid such calamities in future days,” he said.
MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Dr Bharath Y Shetty were also present.