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Ullal: Every ward under the Someshwara Municipal Council of Ullal taluk has its own set of problems. While open and dangerous drains pose risks in some wards despite being constructed, a complete lack of drainage systems in other wards turns roads into streams during the monsoon. One such road is the Someshwara Adkabail 2nd Cross Road, located adjacent to the national highway.

Due to the lack of proper drainage, this road turns into a stream during the rainy season, prompting local residents to submit a memorandum to the Someshwara Municipal Council to resolve the issue before the onset of monsoon this year.

Adkabail is located just a stone's throw away from the Someshwara Municipal Council office. Since this road is situated at a lower level than the national highway, rainwater from the highway and surrounding areas flows directly onto it. Local residents allege that despite submitting memorandums regarding this monsoon distress, officials have not even bothered to visit the spot to assess the situation so far.

As the memorandums submitted over the last four years yielded no results, the locals pooled their own money to temporarily repair the road, but the lack of a proper drainage system rendered their efforts futile. Residents have urged that the municipality must urgently take up work to raise the road level and completely restore it using higher budget allocations.

Key Demands

• A proper drainage system must be constructed at the earliest.

• Bright streetlights need to be installed. Additionally, an electricity pole located in the middle of the road must be shifted to the side.

• Road-raising and tarring works must be completed before the monsoon begins.

• Police patrolling and CCTV cameras should be installed to prevent theft.

Outrage among locals

Due to the poor street lighting at night, the fear of snake and scorpion bites has increased. Furthermore, instances of theft are on the rise. Residents of Adkabail ward, including Gopala Sundara Gatti, Nagaraja, Mamata, Rajesh, and others, have urged the officials in their memorandum to wake up and resolve the issues.

Damage to public property during monsoon

During the rainy season, water flows directly over the road and gushes into local houses and shops, causing damage to public property and raising fears of infectious diseases. It also disrupts children from going to school. Last year, when the road condition deteriorated severely, the municipality merely dumped a single load of gravel and washed its hands of the matter instead of undertaking permanent tarring work. Residents have warned that if municipal officials do not immediately visit the site for an inspection and provide a permanent solution, they will launch intense protests in the coming days.

Survey work from today

A special meeting was held at the municipality in the presence of officials and elected representatives to resolve the problems of areas flooded under the Someshwara Municipal Council jurisdiction during the last monsoon before the onset of the current rainy season. The drainage works have already commenced, and measures will be taken to resolve the issues of the Adkabail area as well. The Deputy Commissioner has issued an order to clear encroachments on the stormwater drain (Rajakaluve) in this area. A survey will be conducted from Monday to clear the encroachments, which will automatically resolve the issues of minor drains connecting to the main channel.

• Purushottama Gatti Paryatturu, Someshwara Municipal Council Adkabail Ward Member