Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Aug 10: Alleging that unscientific road construction by DBL, the contractor executing works on National Highway 169 in the Yedapadavu area, has caused extensive damage to agricultural land, a local landowner approached the Karnataka High Court seeking justice.
Following the court’s directions, a high-level team led by Mangaluru Tahsildar Ramesh Babu inspected the disputed site on August 10. Ashwin Naik, Pushpa Acharya and other landowners own agricultural properties in the area between Muchur Cross and Yedapadavu. Their private lands were completely waterlogged following the recent heavy rains, resulting in the destruction of arecanut plantations and the accumulation of silt and mud in farm ponds and surrounding agricultural areas.
According to Ashwin Naik, the highway has been constructed by raising the road level by nearly 20 feet over agricultural land situated below a sloping hill. He alleged that instead of constructing a proper downward drainage system, the contractor had constructed drains in the opposite direction. The drainage system has also not been connected to the existing downstream stream, resulting in waterlogging on both sides of the highway.
Several farmers in the area have already suffered substantial losses due to what they described as unscientific highway construction. Naik alleged that despite repeatedly requesting the National Highways Authority and DBL to construct the drainage system towards the lower side, no proper response was received. He further alleged that the affected landowners were instead subjected to pressure.
As construction work continued without addressing the issue, Naik approached the Karnataka High Court, seeking protection of private agricultural land from further damage. He requested the construction of proper drainage facilities to allow rainwater to flow downhill, along with a retaining wall along the elevated highway to prevent water from entering the agricultural land.
Naik said that during the court proceedings, the National Highway authorities had reportedly argued that he did not own land in the disputed area and was unnecessarily obstructing the highway project. However, the High Court directed the Mangaluru Tahsildar to inspect the disputed site and submit a report before August 19.
Accordingly, Tahsildar Ramesh Babu, along with officials from the National Highways Authority, Revenue Department and Horticulture Department, visited the site on Monday and conducted an inspection.
Speaking to Vijayavani, Tahsildar Ramesh Babu said, “The Karnataka High Court has directed me to inspect the site and submit a report before August 19. Accordingly, we inspected Ashwin Naik’s land and agricultural property on August 10. A report will be submitted to the court within the next two to three months. The court will take appropriate further action.”
Meanwhile, DBL project managers J P Narayan and Prasad held discussions with tahsildar Ramesh Babu and Ashwin Naik regarding measures to resolve the issue.
The company officials assured the district administration that a temporary drainage channel would be constructed immediately to facilitate the downward flow of rainwater. Subsequently, a permanent drainage system and a retaining wall of adequate height would be constructed along the highway to prevent water from entering the agricultural land.