JOIN USAs south west monsoon is expected to hit the coastal city shortly, Udupi City Municipal Corporation has taken up elaborate precautionary measures to avert problems occurring during monsoon season.
The major problem confronting the city during heavy showers is floods that paralyse routine life. Therefore, the CMC has taken up desilting works of all major drains on priority basis in its agenda for pre-monsoon preparations. Keeping in view the causalities caused owing to heavy floods especially in the Kalsanka trench, the CMC has already finished off with the desilting works of Kalsanka trench that extends from Indrali to Malpe. Speaking to City Herald, CMC Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak said Kalsanka drain is the longest drain in the city. The debris in the drain is removed aiding easy flow of water, he added.
It can be recalled that last year the city had witnessed heavy floods in almost all low lying areas despite the precautionary measures taken up in the wake of heavy rainfall.
Nayak said that it is not possible to avoid such happenings if a particular area receives continuous heavy rain for more than six hours. “However, we are doing our best to avoid such situation. Measures have been taken to clean the areas where there are possibilities of blocking of the flood water. Huge branches of trees are cut and the trees adjacent to the drains are cut to avoid the falling of trees into trench,” he added.
Huge trees that are posing threat during heavy showers are felled. CMC has also directed shop vendors and all others not to keep coconut shells and tyres open giving scope for collection of stagnant water. Nayak said malaria is one of the major water borne diseases that needs major care. As it spreads owing to the mosquitoes that breed in stagnant water, utmost care is taken to make sure that water is not stagnant. People are asked to avoid throwing coconut shells in the open.
Health care needs are readily available to handle cases of water borne diseases, he added.