Unfinished work causes mudslip at Ottinene hillock

MANGALURU: Torrential rains in Baindoor taluk of Udupi district caused landslip at Ottinene hillock on Friday evening bringing back memories of last year’s incident which left vehicular traffic in a mess for more than a week.
Ottinene lies on the Mangaluru-Mumbai National Highway 66, about 110km from Mangaluru and 15km from Bhatkal town in Uttara Kannada.

The incident revived the memories of last year’s incident which left vehicular traffic in a mess for more than a week.


Unlike last year, due to some measures taken by the contractor like piling work and drains after last year’s incident, the situation is contained and the mudslide has been limited to blocking the drains on one side. It is being removed promptly by the contractor without allowing it to flow on to the NH and affect the vehicular movement. The rains had also abated in the afternoon giving some respite from the situation from going out of hand.

Kundapur assistant commissioner T Bhoobalan told TOI: "There is no danger to vehicular movement on NH since the mudslide has reached only the drains and is being removed promptly."

"It’s contained. The problem is that they (IRB infrastructure, the contractor) did not finish covering the hillock with concrete. Only 70% of the work is over. In the meantime rains started and started mixing with soil. The silt was coming down and blocking the drain. They are removing the silt deposited in the drain. We have instructed them to have a permanent solution for this problem as we cannot have a situation every year and use government resources to manage the situation. IRB has pulled out additional resources from nearby site. Even if there is some landslide this time, it will not be like last year. Though the mud may flow down but may come down to drain level and not to the road level. I’m in touch with the local revenue, police and IRB personnel and monitoring the situation,’’ he added.

Last year the situation was grave with both the lanes of NH 66 were filled with debris for 10 meters to 15 meters. The hillock which caused the slide was cut by IRB Infrastructure Developers Ltd for construction the NH. Last year, the Kundapur assistant commissioner filed a complaint of negligence and sub-standard work against the NHAI project director, IRB Infrastructure contractor and consultant who liaised between NHAI and company.

The IRB contractors are attempting to stabilise the hillock based on scientific advise given by IISc scientists by piling rods into the hillock and making drains. The major reason for the slip is the nature of the soil which is clayish.