Since the importance of the road is understood during the time of crisis, many say that it is time to provide face lift to Yelaneeru-Belthangady road, which is in bad condition.
Samse in Kalasa hobli is just 4 kms from Yelaneeru in Belthangady taluk and Didape is 8 kms. Belthangady is 23 kms away from Didape and all put together, Belthangady is just 35 kms away from Samse and likewise if one takes Samse-Didape-Somanathadka route then Dharmasthala, it is just 38 kms away.
If one takes Kudremukh-Karkala route, then from Samse, Belthangady is 100 kms away and Dharmasthala is 110 kms away.
Taking this route makes Hornadu just 54 kms away from Dharmasthala and distance between Kalasa-Mangalore reduces to 93 kms.
With Yelaneeru-Didape road bringing Belthangady and Darmasthala in such a close proximity to Samse, the question which arises is why this road has been left in such a bad condition.
It is learnt that Kudremukh National Park rules are acting as an impediment against the development of this road. This road plies through National Park for about 2 kms covering 4 acres of park area.
There are over 150 families living in Yelaneeru, Bangarabalige, Badamane, Guthyadka, Ukkada, Kurcharu villages, of which most of them hail from Malekudia tribe. In 2005, these villagers joined hands and repaired the Yelaneeru-Didape road (8 kms) all by themselves over night and made it motorable.
Soon after this, Forest Department dug out trenches and left the road in a bad state. The villagers taking note of the same, went all the way to Bangalore and met the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and asked him to provide opportunity to develop the road but their request was turned down on the pretext of National Park rules.
The repair works are going on at a fast pace at the spot where Kalasa-Karkala highway collapsed. About 18 pipes of 4 ft width and 12,000 cement bags have been brought from Mangalore. Of these, 12 pipes have already been placed strategically in the trench on Tuesday with the help of KIOCL. Iron Ore filled cements bags have been placed over these pipes and mud is being filled over the structure. Over 50 workers, 5 tractors and JCBs have been deployed for the job.
PWD Executive Engineer Narayan Mallya said that the trench will be filled so as to see to it that buses can pass through easily. Permanent road will be laid after the monsoon.
During this Lok Sabha election, D V Sadananda Gowda had assured people that development of Yelaneeru-Didape road will be taken up but he too seems to have forgotten this assurance after winning the elections. With distance between Malnad regions and coastal district cutting down drastically, government has not yet comprehended simple mathematics and felt the need to develop this vital route.
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