Justin D'Silva

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Oct 24: It is common to see vehicle twisting and turning every now and then in order to avoid the potholes on the main road of Gundibail ward in the city. This road is not repaired since many years.

People representatives and the officials of city municipality are least bothered about the plight of the citizens living in this area and also others who use this main road for commuting.

Hundreds of vehicles and ambulances use this road while going to Manipal. Pregnant women and sick people have a tough time while travelling on this road. Due to the improper work of underground drainage system public of this area are facing difficulties.

Though the locals appealed for repairing of underground drainage, the officials of city municipality and people representatives reportedly did not carry out the work but just applied tar on the road for the sake of commission they get from the contractors. As soon as the tar work got over, the pipes of underground drainage system got burst and many vehicles got jammed in the pits created by them.

It is said corrupt officials got the tar removed in a hurry and called tender to install new pipeline for underground drainage. However, the new pipelines installed were also done in an unscientific manner. Now the whole area is stinking due to the bursting of many underground drainage pipes.

It is also said that the contractor, who finished the underground drainage system work in an unscientific manner, got his bill passed immediately and the officials of city municipality reportedly got their share of commission. But the problem of underground drainage still remains.

Now the officials of city municipality are once again ready to release grant for applying tar on the road. Already the money behind the work of applying tar has got wasted. The money spent on installing new underground drainage pipes also has gone down the drain. However, the city municipality officials are once again ready to call new tender.

On the whole, the pits of Gundibail in the city have become money spinners for the officials of city municipality and people representatives. The unscientific work done by the contractor is a ploy to get the tender again and again from the government. As the people representatives, who have been voted to power by the public, are reportedly hand in glove with the officials of the city municipality, there is no one to hear the woes of the citizens living in this area.