Kottara Chowki: ₹1.5 crore project underway to expand stormwater drains

Kottara Chowki: In an effort to provide a solution to the annual monsoon flooding issues in the Kottara Chowki area of the city, stormwater drain expansion work is in progress from the front of Karavali College to Kodikal Cross.

The work is being carried out with the goal of completing it before the next monsoon. It is expected that this will allow rainwater to flow smoothly and provide a reasonable solution to the artificial flooding problems faced every year.

Every monsoon, areas including Kottara Chowki and Maladi Court were getting inundated due to the lack of proper water flow, causing severe hardship to the public. Local residents now hope that if the ongoing drain expansion is successfully completed, it will provide a permanent solution to this issue.

While the drain development work near the Fourth Mile small bridge was completed two years ago, the remaining work up to the Kodikal Cross drain connection has now been taken up as its continuation.

Demand for desilting near Dambel

Public demand is rising for precautionary measures to ensure that artificial flooding does not recur, as the lack of proper cleaning of stormwater drains and river areas in Mangaluru city leads to floods every year. Since the water from the Fourth Mile drain joins the Dambel river, locals believe that the accumulation of silt and mud in the river is obstructing the flow of rainwater during high tide. As a result, the water recedes and causes flooding.

Drains from Maladi, Malemar, and Kottara Chowki areas join the main drain coming from Kavoor Mullakad in front of the Royal Enfield showroom. They then pass near A.J. Engineering College and join the Phalguni river. From there, the water reaches the sea via Sultan Battery through the vented dam at Dambel.

There are opinions that the concrete foundation of the vented dam built near Dambel about 30 years ago to prevent saltwater from entering farmers' agricultural lands is now obstructing the smooth flow of water.

Maximum effort has been put in

With the cooperation of MLA Dr. Bharat Shetty and MP Brijesh Chowta, an allocation of 1.50 crore rupees was secured after I obtained approval in the council as a corporation member. The work should have happened earlier but was delayed due to land acquisition and legal hurdles. Now, the drain expansion is underway. A retaining wall is being built for the drain near Maladi Court road. Maximum effort is being made to solve the artificial flooding issue. - Kiran Kumar, former Corporation Member

Measures to desilt at a cost of 54 crore rupees

To prevent artificial flooding during the monsoon, the district administration is taking steps to desilt stormwater drains at a cost of 54 crore rupees. Information regarding dredging in areas connecting to the river will be obtained from the Minor Irrigation Department.