Bantwal official invites wrath of DGR, DC for allowing light traffic on weak Panemangalore bridge

Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada (DK) Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan M P threatened to file a case against Bantwal Town Municipal Council Chief Officer (CO) for disregarding the ban and allowing movement of light motor vehicles on the old Panemangalore steel bridge.

When the CO attempted to clarify that the movement of light vehicles was allowed on the old bridge after council members had passed a unanimous resolution opposing the ban on movement of vehicles, District-in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao too objected to allowing vehicular movement on the British-era steel bridge without obtaining a stability certificate from experts. “Ban movement of all vehicles on the bridge and get experts from NITK to issue a stability certificate for the bridge,” he said while addressing officials at the District Disaster Management Authority meeting organised at the conference hall in Praja Soudha on Wednesday.

82 families get compensation

The minister was informed that compensation of Rs 1.2 lakh each was released to 82 families whose houses had been completely damaged during the rains in DK district. Compensation was also disbursed to 677 out of the total 705 houses that were partially damaged. Bantwal topped the list of taluks with more than 108 partially damaged houses.

Compensation was also paid to the families of five victims who had lost their lives due to natural calamities. Between April and the end of May, 2.43 hectares of agricultural land and 4.884 hectares of horticultural land had been damaged.

Mescom had replaced all 707 electric poles and 31 transformers which had been damaged in the heavy rains. Most of the damage was witnessed in Belthangady and Sullia, due to trees crashing on the power lines. The rains had damaged nine bridges on national highways and 13 on state highways. Under the Panchayat Raj department, 23 of 37 bridges were completely damaged. A total of 181 bridges were declared unsafe and warning boards had been installed.

A total of 145 government buildings, primary schools, and 60 anganwadis, among others, had suffered damages. A proposal of Rs 100 crore was submitted to the government for landslide-related issues and Rs 27 crore was sanctioned for 36 works, including construction of retaining walls. Thirty-four private compound walls had collapsed and landslides were reported on 92 private lands. DC Mullai Muhilan informed the minister that NHAI's retaining wall in Ketthikal could not withstand the pressure and caved in.

The minister directed NHAI officials to include preventive measures for such terrains in their DPRs, rather than waiting for disasters to happen. Officials informed that funds were available to undertake relief work. As many as 1,992 houses had been identified as vulnerable and residents will be asked to shift during red alerts.