Frustrated by official inaction, residents from multiple villages in Udupi's Brahmavar taluk have issued a stern 15-day ultimatum to the authorities. They demand immediate desilting of a crucial natural water stream to prevent a repeat of the artificial flooding that plagues them annually.
Villages Unite Against Annual Flood Menace
The collective plea comes from the villagers of Sooladpu, Manoor, Kaikoor, Giliyar, Chitrapady, Karkada, and Kavady. Their central fear is clear: without urgent desilting, their homes and farms will again be submerged during the next monsoon. Leading the charge is Jayaram Shetty, president of the Raitha Dhwani Kota farmers' association.
Shetty explicitly warned that a mass protest will be staged in front of the Brahmavar tahsildar's office if no concrete action is initiated within the fortnight. He highlighted that the issue has been brought to the notice of officials repeatedly, yet the problem persists, causing severe hardship for farmers cultivating hundreds of acres.
Approved Funds, But Zero Action on Ground
Despite high-level approvals, the bureaucratic process has stalled. Shetty revealed that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had approved a proposal from Raitha Dhwani Kota last year. The proposal recommended that the Karnataka Neeravari Nigama Limited (KNNL) undertake the desilting work by earmarking Rs 4.5 crore.
Following this, engineers prepared and sent a detailed estimate to the chief engineer of KNNL's Upper Tunga Project Zone in Shivamogga. However, the project remains in limbo. "The work has not been taken up, and even the tender has not been floated yet," Shetty stated, condemning the administrative negligence that is worsening the villagers' plight.
Widespread Impact and Community Resolutions
The consequences of the silt accumulation are severe and far-reaching. Several residents in low-lying areas have faced immense difficulties during previous floods. Critical infrastructure has also been damaged, with several roads, including the vital Giliyar-Saibarkatte route via Belur and Kota, being cut off due to inundation.
The gravity of the situation has unified local governing bodies. The issue was thoroughly discussed in the general meetings of six gram panchayats. Furthermore, the Saligrama town panchayat formally adopted a resolution urging immediate action, demonstrating widespread local support for the desilting initiative.
The villagers' demand is now backed by a firm deadline. They await a proactive response from the authorities to avert another cycle of preventable disaster and agricultural loss.
