Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jun 28: In Ullal you can easily identify Manchila within the ward represented by municipal vice president, Razia Ibrahim. This area is plagued by the problem of stagnated effluents from the sewage because of a closed drain, all-pervasive stench, and smelly water entering houses during heavy rains.

A storm drain that had been carrying effluents from about 200 houses since the last five decades has been closed by the mud poured on it by individuals constructing a house there. The living condition of the people living in the neigbourhood of this area has turned miserable as a result. This area is located close to the river, and the effluents from here directly drain out into the river.

A local said that the drainage system of the area since the last many decades had never posed any problem to the residents of Manchila. The effluents released by houses used to flow through the drains and reach the river. 'A person who bought a 50-cent site near the houses here took up the work of building a layout here. At the time works began, Razia Ibrahim and owner of the site, Nawaz, held parleys with the local people, duly assuring them that care would be taken to ensure that the building of layout does not pose a problem for them,' he complained.

Dirty water from the stagnated drain has often gushed into nearby homes during rains. The house of Basheer, a local, is facing the risk of collapsing since the phenomenon of drain water entering into his house began. The municipal councillor representing this ward does not pick calls made to her cell phone, and Nawaz too is not available over phone, locals said.

The effluents have now stagnated over a 30-cent vacant site. The area has turned into a breeding ground for mosquitoes, with other insects also multiplying their presence with the help of these conditions. People are afraid of epidemic spreading in their area.

A teacher of the local Anganwadi, Swarnalata, has been moving around to cater to the needs of the local residents. At a time when the people's representatives have not heeded to the needs of the people, she has taken the initiative to talk to the municipal officials towards arranging for removal of mud from the drains, although she does not belong to this area. She has proved to be saving grace to the people of the area at a time when others have turned a deaf ear to their woes.