Sea erosion intensifies in Ullal, Ucchila

Water-logged roads inconvenience pedestrians and vehicle users

Incessant rains have been lashing both districts, and the low-lying areas in Dakshina Kannada were inundated on Monday.

In Udupi, the low lying areas of Udupi, Malpe and Manipal are in fear of reaching the same state, if the rain continues to pour on Tuesday.

The heavy rain in the morning – and the long-spell that lasted till evening – saw streets inundated across Mangaluru city. Pandeshwar, KS Rao Road in front of City Centre Mall, Bunder area and Hampankatta, among other areas, were water-logged.There was no let-go for motorists as the drizzle persisted through the day. Pedestrians had a tough time wading through the rain-logged road in Mangaluru.

In the last 24 hours, Bantwal taluk received the highest rain of 55.4 mm, followed by Mangaluru – 54.8 mm, Puttur – 53.4 mm, Belthangady – 51.7 mm and Sullia – 47.2 mm. The water-level in River Nethravathi has increased to 3 metres (the danger-level is 8.5 metres) at Bantwal, while at Uppinangady, the water level was 6 metres (the danger-level is 29.5 metres).

Artificial flood at Kaikamba Junction, Bajpe, inconvenienced the public. The water had entered even the Kaikamba market.

The residents said that artificial floods at Kaikamba had created a lot of problem last year as well. In spite of complaints to the authorities, the problem persists this year.
Zilla Panchayat member U P Ibrahim has assured that a meeting of the merchants will be convened shortly to discuss the problems.

Heavy rain, coupled with gusty wind, lashed Sullia for half an hour. The asbestos sheets of a few shops flew away in the wind. The compound wall of a house collapsed at Bettampady.

Sea erosion

With an increase in sea erosion, three houses in Ucchila are facing threat of being washed away in the waves. The inmates of the houses that are facing threat of sea erosion have been shifted to safer areas in New Ucchila. Waves have started hitting the houses of Vasanth, Yamuna, and Chandrashekar in Ucchila.

A portion of Chandrashekar’s house was washed away last year too. Over 20 coconut trees have already been washed away. A 78-year-old Yamuna said, “When strong waves started hitting my house two years ago, I had appealed to the authorities to dump boulders to check erosion, however, none helped me.”

Sea erosion also intensified at Kotepura, Kaiko, Hileriyanagara, Subhashnagara in Ullal region. Over 20 houses in the region are facing the threat. A house belonging to Aboobakar has been damaged at Kotepura. Ullal CMC President Husain Kunhimonu has visited the spot. Sea erosion has intensified at Koderi Hosahithlu in Kirimanjeshwara too. The boulders dumped to check the erosion are being swallowed by the waves. The coconut trees and a few houses are facing the threat of destruction. Baindur Special Tahsildar Kiran Gowraiah visited the spot to take a stock of the situation.

Udupi

The district has received an average of 57.9 mm rainfall.

As the rainfall shows to be incessant, the low-lying areas in the district are in danger of being inundated, if the situation does not change on Tuesday.

In the last 24 hours, Karkala taluk has experienced 66-mm rainfall followed by Karkala – 57.9 mm and Udupi taluk – 57.1 mm rainfall.

Attempts to hold back the sea at Ullal

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies U T Khader has directed the officials to take up temporary measures to check sea erosion in Ullal area.

In a press release, the minister said that he has already spoken to Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim and engineers to take up the work. “I have also appraised PWD Minister Mahadevappa on the intensity of sea erosion in Ullal,” the minister added.