Mangaluru MLA Convenes Crucial Meeting on Monsoon Flood Mitigation
In response to the severe damage inflicted on homes during the last monsoon season, Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath called an urgent meeting on Wednesday. The gathering brought together officials from the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) and affected local residents to strategize on precautionary measures. The focus was on understanding the root causes of flooding, identifying immediate necessary works, and formulating a plan to prevent future recurrences.
Identifying the Problem: Construction Obstructing Natural Flow
Addressing the attendees, MLA Kamath pinpointed specific residential areas that bore the brunt of the flooding. Locations near Attavar KMC, Telecom Apartments, Pandeshwar, and Shivanagar were particularly affected as stormwater drain overflow inundated homes. He highlighted a critical underlying issue: many of these zones were originally paddy fields. The subsequent large-scale construction of housing societies has severely obstructed the natural pathways for water drainage, a concern repeatedly raised by the locals themselves.
In light of this, Kamath instructed the corporation officials to treat local community inputs as a top priority. He directed them to use this grassroots knowledge to prepare a comprehensive and effective plan to tackle the waterlogging menace.
Funding Freeze Under New Govt Delays Emergency Works
The MLA provided a comparative analysis of funding and outcomes. He noted that during the previous BJP government's tenure, a special grant of approximately Rs 75 crore was utilized to construct retaining walls along several key stormwater drains within the constituency. This infrastructure investment, he asserted, played a significant role in preventing even more extensive damage during the recent monsoons.
However, Kamath pointed out a stark contrast following the change in state leadership. Since the Congress government assumed power, he claimed the constituency has not received even minimal funds. This financial drought has resulted in delays for carrying out minor emergency repair and maintenance works, leaving the area vulnerable. Despite these challenges, the MLA assured that a follow-up meeting would soon be convened with the deputy commissioner and senior MCC officials to strongly advocate for a permanent engineering solution to the flooding problem.
Key Stakeholders Attend Meeting
The meeting saw the participation of important figures, ensuring a multi-perspective discussion. Among those present were former mayors Divakar Pandeshwar and Premanand Shetty. From the administrative side, executive engineer and MCC deputy commissioner (development) Naresh Shenoy was also in attendance, representing the civic body's technical and planning wings.
The collective effort underscores the growing urgency to address Mangaluru's drainage woes before the next monsoon season tests the city's infrastructure once again. The outcome of the promised meeting with higher officials will be closely watched by residents of the flood-prone localities.
