Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Baikampady, Jul 18: The Baikampady Industrial Area, the second-largest industrial estate in Karnataka, was hit by artificial flooding following heavy rain on Thursday and Friday. Water entered several industrial units, damaging machinery and raw materials worth lacs of rupees.

Industrialists alleged that the main reason for the recurring problem is the unscientific construction and poor maintenance of stormwater drains surrounding the industrial estate. They claimed that drains around the Baikampady APMC and adjoining areas are clogged with garbage, while the main drainage channel leading to the sea has not been cleaned. As a result, rainwater fails to drain out and instead flows back into industrial units.

They said the industrial area faces similar artificial flooding every monsoon, resulting in substantial financial losses each year. Despite repeatedly bringing the issue to the notice of the district administration and the government, no permanent solution has been implemented so far.

The industrialists have urged the government to immediately constitute a high-level team to inspect the affected area and take steps to provide a permanent solution to the recurring flooding problem.