Dept wants barriers at canals to prevent mishaps

The Transport department seems to have woken up from its slumber after the Kanaganamaradi bus mishap which claimed 30 lives recently as the department has written a letter to the Public Works Department to construct barriers on the roads which pass along the canals to prevent such incidents in future.

Most of the roads adjoining the canals can be seen in Pandavapura, Mandya, Srirangapatna and Maddur taluks. Hemavathy Right and Left Bank canals pass through KR Pet and Nagamangala taluks. With Krishnaraja Sagar and Hemavathy dams filled to the brim, there is a good flow of water in these canals, inviting danger. Though there were many incidents of vehicles rolling into the canals claiming lives, the officials and elected representatives have understood the severity of the issue only after the Kanaganamaradi mishap. With people exerting pressure on the government departments, it has become inevitable to take suitable measures now. Recently, three people of the same family died after the scooter they were riding on fell into the canal at Lokasara village. Joint Commissioner for Transport (Mysuru division) C T Murthy has written a letter to the Executive Engineer of the PWD to make a list of roads, which need barriers.

When contacted, PWD Executive Engineer Harsha said, they have already started a survey and are making a list of roads that need barriers. While the PWD will construct barriers on the main roads, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam will build barriers at other places. An action plan will be prepared once the list is ready, he added. A canal in Pandavapura town is very dangerous. It may be mentioned that a farmer had drowned in it recently when Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy was in town to take part in a programme. There is another canal near Pandava Stadium. Besides, there are canals at Chikka Byadarahalli, K Bettahalli, M Bettahalli, Yelekere handpost, and other places. The Lokapavani bridge near Chikkamarali Gate is also in a dilapidated condition.

Similarly, there is no retaining wall near the canal on Kodishettipura-Gananguru in Srirangapatna taluk. This is close to the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway.