MANGALURU: Timely work undertaken by the
National Highways at Kettikal in
Tiruvail village, in the outskirts of the city, has possibly prevented a massive landslide that could have blocked
Kulshekar-Moodbidri-Karkala stretch. However, this time the culprit was not incessant rains - but a man made. A person, whose
residential layout, situated adjacent to road had blocked the pipes that allow water to flow from upper reaches to down below, by dumping mud so that water does not enter his plot.
The Kettikal is notorious for heavy landslides ever since the highway was constructed cutting hillocks. In 1998, a major landslide had blocked highway for weeks and similar incident took in 2004. The commuters had to take alternative routes after which, the highway officials had made elaborate arrangement so that such incidents don’t take place in the future. They had installed huge pipes so that heavy water from hillock is passes through it and reaches to other side without hindering vehicular movement.
Yashwanth, assistant executive engineer of National Highways who was overseeing the work said that one of the person, who is constructing a residential layout adjacent to highways had dumped mud to block water flowing to his plot. The water flows through pipes and passes below road and ends up at his plot. The persons, without obtaining any permission or intimating the concerned authorities had put up huge amount of mud to block water flow. As a result, water from heavy rain stagnated in the adjacent culvert and due to pressure road started getting cracked. “If it wasn’t noticed, the entire road would have collapsed and also led to catastrophe. On the other side of road several villagers live and their houses would have been washed away along with mud,” he said.
Speaking about further actions, Yashwanth said NH will serve notice to plot owners as well ask Mangaluru City Corporation to withhold their license works since they have caused trouble to public.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, several earthmovers cleared the mud debris that chocked pipes and culverts were also cleared to help free flow of rain water gushing from hillocks. However, they have erected barricade in several places where road has witnessed cracks.