Mangalore: Netravati Pipeline that Belongs to No One?

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 18: Citizens residing in the vicinity of Netravati Bridge near the city have demanded immediate suspension of ongoing work on a pipeline that has been passing through River Netravati near Jappinamogaru village. They pointed out that the work on the pipeline is in progress since the last about four months, and that there has not been any information about the purpose of the pipeline and who is laying it.

“This pipeline is about two kiometres long, and no one knows to whom it belongs, and why it is being laid. My questions about the pipeline posed to Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, deputy commissioner, MLA, N Yogiish Bhat, tahsildar of the taluk, sub-divisional officer, policemen of the rural station and Coastal Regulatory Zone authorities have gone without a reply. If the district administration fails to stop this work with immediate effect, we will lead a protest to achieve this goal,” warned local corporator, J Nagendra Kumar. He was addressing a press conference here on Thursday November 17.

Kumar said that some people claim that the pipeline belongs to Mangalore Special Economic Zone, but added that no one has confirmed this information so far. He also said that there are allegations that a few people, who have encroached upon the river bed for conducting illegal sand mining by erecting a bund there, are being paid a monthly rent of Rs 50,000 for the pipeline. He noted that the pipeline, laid over the surface of water, has been impeding the movement of fishing boats in the area.

“The instructions issued by the district in-charge minister and deputy commissioner to stop the works have gone unheeded,” he alleged.

Youth Congress president, Pravinchandra Alva, local citizens, Sridharraj Kadekar, Rajesh, Shashikant Shetty, and others were present at the press conference.