Residents of Kodialbail ward in Mangaluru have sounded an urgent alarm over severe contamination of their drinking water sources, demanding swift action from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). The crisis stems from sewage allegedly leaking into public drains and nearby wells, creating a serious public health threat.
Sewage Leak Triggers Public Outcry
Local citizens have pinpointed the root of the problem to a wet well located in Kodialguthu. They allege that sewage from this well is being discharged directly into public drains. This improper disposal is reportedly due to aged and damaged pipelines that have begun to leak. The consequence has been the contamination of water in wells used by residents and a persistent foul odour permeating the neighbourhood.
Former corporator Prakash B Salian explained the technical failure. He stated that the sewage from the Kodialguthu wet well is supposed to be channeled to the Kudroli wet well for proper processing. However, because the connecting pipes are old and broken, the waste is spilling into storm drains instead. This has led to the breeding of mosquitoes and, most critically, the pollution of well water.
Political Intervention and Official Promises
Upon being alerted to the dire situation, MLC Ivan D'Souza visited the affected site on Monday. He engaged in discussions with worried locals to understand the scale of the problem. D'Souza confirmed the residents' fears, acknowledging that sewage was indeed flowing into drains and polluting local wells.
"This poses health risks to residents if they use the contaminated water," D'Souza warned. He mentioned that his visit was prompted by a request from former corporator Salian. After listening to the community's grievances, the MLC directed civic officials to tackle the issue without delay.
Roadmap for a Solution
Following discussions with engineers and MCC staff, D'Souza secured assurances of immediate action. Officials committed to redirecting the errant sewage flow through proper pipelines. A significant development was the revelation of a proposal worth Rs 5 crore for laying three new pipes to resolve the infrastructure deficit.
"Officials assured immediate action and promised to redirect the sewage through pipes. A proposal for three pipes costing Rs 5 crore was submitted, and the engineer confirmed that the work will commence soon," MLC D'Souza added. Despite these promises, residents and former corporator Salian noted that the MCC had yet to take any concrete steps to mitigate the health hazards, leaving the community in continued distress.
