Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 31: People living in low lying areas of the city begin to worry about artificial flooding once the monsoon season begins. Artificial floods can occur any time including the middle of the night. This flood is caused by the silt and waste deposit that gets accumulated in main drains and smaller drains connected to it. The waste matter chokes the drains and stops effluents from moving further. Artificial flood has become common in certain areas during the monsoon season.

Pre monsoon rains have already begun to make an appearance. The city too experienced this rain. Even a couple of hours of heavy rainfall can inundate low lying areas. It may be recalled that a part of the city had experienced flooding on May 29, 2018, as a result of a few hours of rainfall. Major reason for flooding is the failure to clear the main drain of waste and silt. The officials, who were busy with election preparations then, had overlooked this work. It is hoped that this year they will pay attention to allow free flow of excess water in the main drains and sub drains by clearing the obstructions.

Last year, just before the onset of monsoon, the drains had been cleared of waste. Thereafter rain came and the drains are again full of filth, mud and other waste. In August last year, an artificial flood had occurred. In addition to silt, grass and bushes have grown in the drains. All of these have to be removed. The slush and mud accumulation is more where the drain joins the river, as a result of which water flows backwards. Therefore, this accumulation has to be cleared. Citizens can hope to be free from flooding if the silt, which can be anywhere between two to ten feet deep, is removed.

Pipes and cables crisscross one other's paths in the drains. Waste and filth get stuck at these points and block free flow of water. Sand and mud which flow down the hilly areas then get accumulated at these points like a dam. This results in floods as water gets blocked and even JCBs fail to remove this silt. Flooding in low lying areas is particularly witnessed in Bejai, Ballalbagh, Kodialbail, Kudroli, Jeppinamogaru, Pandeshwar, Malemar, Kottara Chowki, Pandeshwar, Pumpwell and other areas.

Mayor Premananda Shetty, says that agencies have been entrusted with the task of clearing the main drains, and the work will begin in ten days. He said that even drains with a width of one metre will be cleared. He said that main drains which cause flooding more often will be cleared first. He also revealed that he has already visited main drains in Surathkal and passed on instructions to officials.