Bantwal: Faulty Design of Vented Dam Causes Floods in Fields
Pics: Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jun 29: After a vented dam built across Anekal rivulet near Karopady here was washed away because of the acute pressure of flowing water, water flooded large tracts of agricultural land located by the side of the rivulet. About 300 areca nut trees and 60 coconut trees are now covered by water. They are owned by Kunhi Ahmed, son of Kunhappa Haji from Anekal village near Vittal. The areca nut plantations owned by Narayana Saphalya and Taniyappa Saphalya, which are also located nearby, are now facing the threat of being inundated.
On Monday night, water level rose above the dam level, and entered the fields nearby. As the water gushed into the nearby plantations, the loose soil of the plantations got washed away, and a number of trees started getting uprooted. Several leaders like Ramanna Shetty Palige, president of Karnataka Gadi Nela Jala Samrakshane Samiti, Anekal Kuinhappa Haji, Karopady gram panchayat vice-president, Abdul Jaleel Karopady, village accountant, Ranjit, secretary, Poovappa Shetty, and others visited the spot and assessed the losses.
The locals are afraid that more land will get submerged in the coming days, unless the silt and debris that have got accumulated at the dam site are removed, water level in the dam will rise further and inundate more agricultural fields.
The dam built across Anekal rivulet located on the state’s border with Kerala, was built by Vorkady gram panchayat in Kerala, by making use of grants sanctioned by Kerala government. The water that gets stored there is used for irrigation and drinking purpose by villages in Kerala. The project had been opposed by Ramanna Shetty Palige, Anekal Kunhappa Haji and other leaders at the time of its execution. In the meantime, the dam and pump house were completed and the water from the dam was pumped to villages in Kerala. The locals say that unscientific and faulty plan of the dam drafted by engineers is the reason for this artificial flood.
They say that this dam has too small vents to allow proper water flow. These vents are unable to allow flow of huge amount of debris and other waste materials which come flowing in the monsoon months to pass through, and therefore, wooden pieces, logs, and other waste materials get stuck at the dam and clog the water flow. This has made the locals to loose heavily in the form of destroyed plantations, they have alleged.
Udupi: Incessant Rains Lead to Flooding Along NH 66
Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Jun 29: The incessant rains on Sunday June 27 and Monday June 28 have resulted in floods along NH 66 (formerly NH 17) at Udyavar, Katpady, Kallianpur, Pangala, Kaup, Ucchila, Muloor, and other areas.
The ongoing four-lane conversion work along NH 66, with little provision for storm water drains has worsened the situation for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.
The construction of new bridges on rivulets at Udyavar, Pangala, Shambavi in Mulky and Mabukula, are being held responsible for flooding of farmlands along the banks.