Nala poses big threat to residents

DHARWAD: While the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad are dogged by unfinished UGD works and dug up roads, piling on their agony is the presence open nalas in some areas which are nothing less than death traps.
One such deadly nala exists on Haliyal Road in Dharwad, stretching about 300 metres from Jayanagar cross to Srinagar cross. With no walls around it, the nala is an open invitation to accidents.A long stretch of the nala is full of weeds and shrubs, where danger lurks. Worse, there are no street lights on this stretch. So residents here don't dare to venture out after sunset.
The drainage canal has also become a breeding ground for snakes which are often seen slithering on the roads. Their presence has fueled the fear of residents and road users.
The nala has not been desilted for long. Foul smell emanating from it engulfs the entire area. Clouds of mosquitoes swarm the area, spreading the fear on malaria, dengue and other diseases.
Manjunath Kulkarni a retired lecturer said, "Things get worse in the rainy season as the nala overflows and filthy water enters the low-lying areas in Tungabadhra colony."
While the presence of the unmaintained nala has made life hell for residents CB Nagar, Srinagar, Jayanagar, Tungabhadra Colony and surrounding areas, the HDMC authorities don't seem to be bothered. Geeta Pawar, a resident said, "So far, we have submitted around 14 memorandums to the DC, Tahsildar and the HDMC requesting them to desilt the nala and construct a crash guard around it. But no action has been taken so for."
Shankar Kumbi, a resident of CB Nagar who is also the president of Hubli-Dharwad Nagarika Parisara Samithi, said that the condition of the nala is deteriorating year by year. Not only residents but even motorists are facing trouble as the nala doesn't have any railings."
This being one of the busiest roads in the city, the authorities should look into the matter and construct a retaining wall, before any untoward incident takes place, he added.
Speaking to TOI, Nayana KS, an environmental engineer of HDMC said, "Once we attempted to desilt the nala by using an earth moving machine. But since it was a small machine, the work had to be halted."
G K Maralihalli, assistant zonal commissioner HDMC said, "We called tenders three times to take up the repair and desilting works but we did not get proper response from the contractors. But now some of the contractors have responded and soon the works will began. In the first phase we are aiming at constructing a wall around the nala for around 100 meters at cost of Rs 35 lakh."