Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/EP) 

Udupi, Oct 9: People living in one of the wards of this fast-growing city are compelled to tightly pinch their noses when moving about. Although problems do crop up in cities which develop in leaps and bounds, people in the said ward are, in addition, unable to use their well water. The district administration has not responded to their request for provision of water through municipal pipeline. They have to inevitably bring water from distant houses for their daily use. This helpless situation is being witnessed in a part of Gundibail ward, which is located three kilometers away from this city.

There has been no response for a request submitted to the office of former deputy commissioner explaining about the above issues and seeking help. Drainage water flows in the open drain passing near a house here. Several buildings including residences are coming up in this vicinity. Effluents from these houses are being released into a nearby pit. Overflowing water from this pit flows backwards towards these houses. Though water does not flow properly during monsoons, people are spared of stench during the rainy season. Water is stagnated now, which has given rise to unbearable stink. 

There are hundreds of houses here. People who believed that allowing fresh water to get stored in the well would result in availability of fresh water in the wells, had emptied the wells before the monsoon. But the dirty water that flows nearby has again seeped into the well. The colour of the well water has turned blue. Though municipal councillor, Prabhakar Poojary, made an effort to solve the problems, permanent solution was found to be impossible. The problem has cropped because of the fact that the toilet water and waste water in the houses was allowed to flow into the same pit. 

There is a government lake here but nobody uses the lake water. Sediment was removed from the bottom of the lake and a boundary wall was built at a cost of Rs 26 lac around it five years ago but it has not been maintained properly after that. Children go to swim there only during the monsoon season. The excess water from it also is left to flow into the pit. 

The residents need to lay concrete walls to the existing drain and ensure that water flows properly without seeping into the ground. Drinking water needs to be supplied to the locality. The immediate need of the people of Gundibail is to stop the nauseating smell which encompasses their surroundings. The officials who came for survey to provide drinking water pipeline have reportedly not come back. Elected representatives are shirking from responsibility, by saying that they are helpless without political power.