Mangaluru Residents Demand Immediate Halt to Ullal UGD Wet Well Construction
In a tense standoff on Wednesday, residents of Mangaluru gathered to urge the district administration to immediately stop the construction of a wet well for the underground drainage (UGD) system in Ullal, which falls within assembly speaker UT Khader's constituency. The situation escalated as protesters assembled near the project site, leading to a significant police deployment to manage the growing unrest.
Serious Health and Environmental Concerns Raised
Former MLC BM Farookh, in a formal letter addressed to the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner, highlighted that the wet well being constructed near the seashore poses a grave threat to public health and the environment. He emphasized that the densely populated coastal location exacerbates these risks, with the groundwater level in the locality measured at just nine feet deep and the sea a mere 200 metres away from high tide.
During the rainy season, the entire area is prone to inundation with rainwater, which could lead to severe health hazards, Farookh stated. He further warned that the wet well would likely pollute both air and water, directly endangering the health and well-being of local residents. The area relies on approximately 150 open wells and 90 borewells for drinking water and domestic needs, making contamination a critical issue.
Committee Report and Historical Context
Farookh, who previously headed the government assurance committee, noted that the committee had submitted a report advising against the project. This recommendation was based on the fact that the detailed project report (DPR) was prepared as far back as 2007, raising questions about its relevance and safety in the current context. He demanded that the district administration cease all construction work immediately to prevent potential disasters.
Activist Voices and Police Intervention
Activist Muneer Katipalla echoed these concerns, pointing out that the wet well is being built in a densely populated area where residents are deeply worried about the implications. "The surrounding residents are greatly concerned about the issue, but their voices are being forcibly silenced," he stated in a release. The tension peaked on Wednesday when water was discovered at a depth of 10 feet during the wet well construction, prompting a few locals to question the workers. In response, a large contingent of police arrived at the scene, further intensifying the situation.
The protest underscores a broader clash between infrastructure development and community welfare, with residents calling for a reevaluation of the project to ensure it does not compromise public health or the fragile coastal ecosystem.
