Jeppinamogaru residents demand retaining wall after repeated flooding

Mangaluru: The Jeppinamogaru Congress Ward Committee and local residents have urged the immediate construction of a scientific retaining wall to prevent recurring floods in the area. Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Congress ward president Sudhakar J said that recent heavy rain led to the collapse of a protective embankment, resulting in widespread flooding and property damage in areas such as Thochila, Nagallu, Ganeshnagara, Hoigerashi, Vaidyanathanagara, Bajehithalu, and Angadimaru.Sudhakar noted that continuous rain over the past 20–25 days caused the rajakaluve, which flows through Jeppinamogaru via Kankanady Pumpwell and Ekkur, to overflow. At the Nagallu Urundetota stretch, a 25m-long retaining wall was completely washed away, leaving the area inundated. "In just the last 15 days, the locality flooded at least three to four times, severely disrupting daily life," he said.He recalled that a permanent retaining wall construction was initiated by former ZP member Denis D'Souza and then-MLA K Jayaram Shetty, with funding support from former MP B Janardhana Poojary. Though the Smart City project later earmarked a substantial budget for a fully concretised wall, only one side of the drain was completed. The remaining 75m near Aakash Kattapuni's house was left unfinished, relying on an old mud embankment, which eventually gave way during the floods.Former corporator Nagendra alleged serious lapses in desilting operations, which were meant to be conducted during March-April. Key stretches near the national highway, a private school, Vaidyanatha Dwara, and Kadekar were ignored, he said. After the downpour in late May, local youths placed sandbags to prevent further damage. He accused former corporators and the sitting MLA of failing to act on public concerns and putting lives at risk.