Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (MS)

Sullia, Apr 10: Govind Bhat Nettaru (67), resident of Jogibettu Mane of Kalmadka in the taluk has given a new form to the traditional water barrier or Katta. He has resolved the decade-long issue he was facing while erecting a water barrier. The design of the new style of Katta is done by enginerr Patanjali Bharadwaj, son of Girish Bharadwaj, who is known as the Sethu Bandhu or Bridgeman.

Earlier Govind Bhat used to build the Katta using mud and stones. Labour was the main problem faced by Bhat. After that he tried using sandbags, which did not yield a good result. Now Patanjali has introduced a new experimental Katta which can be either installed or dismantled within three to four hours. These are called semi-permanent Kattas. Inspired by Govind Bhat, his close relative Uday Kumar Nettaru has also decided to install this kind of water barrier on his land. Patanjali Bharadwaj is guiding him as well.

According to the new idea, a concrete foundation needs to be put on the bottom surface of the drain and a number of holes are to be drilled to insert iron rods. Every time when the barrier has to be erected the iron rods have to be installed. Four Iron sheets each on top and bottom of these rods have to be fixed and secured with bolts. The Katta will then be ready for use. If two labourers work for three to four hours the Katta gets ready. The total cost of the water barrier or Katta that Govind Bhat got erected on his land, which has three rods, costs Rs 1.75 lac. To construct a new Katta two years are required. In order to construct the Katta next year, the concrete foundation needs to be laid in the previous year in summer, when the ground of the drain in which the water flows is dry.

"Earlier, I was not getting labourers to build traditional water barriers of mud. Even if they were available, the cost was too much. Later when sandbags were used for water barriers, the labourers were finding it difficult to carry the bags which weighed 100 to 200 kgs. This new style of Katta has resolved all such issues. My land that is on both sides of the drain is always cool," he said.