Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Mar 26: Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC), V Ponnuraj, visited the spot at Valachchil near Adyar, where the retaining wall built by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) during the road widening work had collapsed, affecting five houses located by the roadside on Wednesday.
During his visit to the spot on Thursday March 25, the DC took to task the consultants of NHAI for the faulty design. The consultants tried to explain that the retaining walls built of laterite stones have weathered environmental conditions in the past, and that normally, concrete walls are required to be built only if the required height is above three metres.
The DC assured the affected people including two houses that have almost been been razed to the ground completely, that he would write to the NHAI to pay suitable compensation to them. Speaking to reporters later, he opined that the retaining walls of the roads should be built using hard rocks in a slanting manner with strong base, to withstand pressure. He expressed resentment at the building of laterite stone wall for the road without laying concrete foundation, but said that the NHAI had to built straight wall as it did not have additional land to create a slope.
The residents told the DC that they are unable to live there because of the adjacent highway, dust, and inaccessibility. They also expressed their readiness to leave the land to NHAI if they are paid compensation for the land and other assets at the prevailing rates. When enquired, the NHAI officials said that it would be impossible for them to create access road to everyone, and that it is the duty of the local authorities to do the same. They also said that starting the land acquisition process, which is a lengthy process, again is not possible. The DC asked the NHAI officials to consider providing accommodation to the affected people at their cost till their homes are repaired.
Taluk panchayat member, Khalid Yousuf, gram panchayat members, Uday Kumar, representative of Sai Constructions, which is the consulting firm for NHAI, etc., were present. MLA, U T Khader, had visited the spot on Wednesday and met the DC to urge him to arrange for payment of compensation to the affected people at the earliest.