Fear of caving in of hillock haunts people

Though the mounds of soil from the caving in of a hillock beside old private bus stand were cleared five months ago, the promise of constructing a retaining wall and developing it as a tourist spot is yet to be fulfilled.

The entire spot is now inviting danger as the monsoon is fast approaching.

In spite of officials passing through the area daily, no efforts have been made to construct the retaining wall to prevent further caving in of the hillock, said the residents.

On August 15, 2018, the caving in of the hillock after the natural calamity had damaged the bus shelter and the stalls. Several merchants who were eking out living had come to the street after losing their source of livelihood.

The CMC that had promised to develop the site as a tourist spot completed its tenure two months ago. Now, Deputy Commissioner Annies Kanmani Joy is the administrator of CMC. No measures have been taken to convert the site into a tourist spot, said the residents.

When Kaveramma Somanna was the CMC president, she had convened two meetings to discuss the developing of the area as a tourist spot.

District In-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh had promised to release grants to develop the site as a tourist spot. Though Congress members of the CMC were enthusiastic over the project, the BJP members were not keen on taking it up. As a result, the project was delayed and the action plan was not prepared.

With the monsoon fast approaching, the residents fear the further collapse of the hillock.

In fact, the CMC had tested the soil and named the place as ‘Madikeri Square’. But no one is aware of the result of the test.

Local resident Sanjay said, “It is scary to look at the site of the old bus stand in Madikeri. It reminds us of the natural calamity that wreaked havoc in the heart of Madikeri.”

In fact, District In-charge Secretary Anbukumar had directed the officials to take up the work on the retaining wall at the old bus stand and near the district complex on Mangaluru Road. Unfortunately, no measures have been taken so far.

The permanent restoration work on the National Highway from Madikeri to Sampaje has not been taken up. The sandbags placed temporarily for the movement of the vehicles are likely to collapse.