Moilykere pollution: MLA instructs officials to take measures

Mangaluru: In the wake of complaints regarding various issues, such as water stagnation due to the lack of a proper drainage system near the Mahakalipadpu railway underbridges (RUB) and the contamination of the historic Moilykere lake, Mangaluru City South MLA D Vedavyas Kamath visited the spot along with officials.TOI highlighted the issue of lake pollution and the lack of underground drainage (UGD) for residents in the area in its columns recently. Kamath said that during the BJP govt's tenure, Moylikere was fully developed by Muda. "In recent times, there were numerous public complaints about the lake's water being polluted due to drainage from other areas. I instructed officials to comprehensively plan all necessary measures to prevent drainage water from entering the lake in the future. For many years, there has been a need to construct a wet well for the proposed UGD in this area, and discussions are under way to acquire about 10 cents of adjacent private land for this purpose," the MLA said.
Additionally, Kamath said a wall built across the recently inaugurated Mahakalipadpu RUB obstructed the smooth flow of rainwater, causing water to stagnate on the road. The MLA emphasised the immediate need for proper drainage construction there.Former deputy mayor Bhanumathi PS and former council members Shailesh Shetty brought local issues to the MLA's attention. "I instructed officials to take prompt action. Despite the lack of funding for development over the past 2.5 years, efforts will be made to address the constituency's issues beyond limits," Kamath said.Girish K, convenor of the Shettibettu Kere Mattu Katte Samrakshana Vedike, said that providing UGD connections to houses is the lasting solution to prevent pollution and restore the lake. He said nearly 400 houses in Mahakalipadpu, Adarsh Nagar, Shettibuettu, and Jeppupatna had no UGD connections.