Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 16: The people of Ombattukere Babu compound in Ullal  are leading a miserable life as their wells have become highly polluted, effluents are flowing through the areas they reside in, unbearable stench has been suffocating them, and many of them are suffering from skin-related ailments because of wretched atmosphere. The complaints made to Ullal city municipality officials and district deputy commissioner have evoked no positive response.

Since the last seven months, a three-storied residential complex having 14 houses has been operational at Ullal Ombattukere. As no proper arrangement has been made for the outflow of water from the toilets of this building and other effluents, the general public have been going through a horrid time.

During the initial days since the complex was set up, effluents from the building were being transported elsewhere through tankers. However, as time passed, owner of the building wanted to save money, and began to discharge the effluents into a huge pit that was dug for the purpose at the base of the building. Thereafter, the system of carrying waste water from there once a week was started. A lady in the region says that the entire area starts to stink because of nauseous smell that spreads all over when the operation to empty the effluents is taken up.

There are several houses near the contentious building. Five of the wells of these houses have become polluted. After finding some chemical like oil floating in the water of their wells, house owners like Vivekananda and Imtiaz got the water tested at the laboratory of Kasturba Medical College, and found that the water was contaminated with bacteria and that drinking this water was hazardous to their health. As a result, people of about seven houses in the area are struggling for drinking water.

Imtiaz, a local, said that after the well water got contaminated, his sister started to suffer from skin problems. As he was apprehensive that continuing to live in the area might aggravate the disease and as there was no proper arrangement to get drinking water, Imtiaz said, the family has started to live in a relative's house since sometime.

Vivekananda explained that his well had been dug recently. 'Still, I spent Rs 1.5 lac to repair it. But within a few days since conducting repairs, water from the well started to emanate bad odour. Tests proved that the water had been heavily contaminated. I had raised loan for repairing the well, but could not get any benefit out of the repairs. As the effluents getting stored in the pit flows through the courtyards of houses here, the entire house is covered with stench, and the problem of mosquitoes has become acute,' he said.

The locals said that after the area began to stink, they had met Basheer, who owns the complex, and complained to him. They had to return without any result, as the owner reportedly told them that he was free to do what he wants in his land. They then complained to the district deputy commissioner. The deputy commissioner in turn, had asked the officials of Ullal city municipality to conduct spot inspection. Although an official from there came to visit, nothing was done thereafter, the people living in the area said.

They point out that this three-storied building does not have proper parking arrangement. They have expressed anger at the fact that the owner of the building was issued permission to build another floor, although even when the building had two stories, it did not have proper drainage system.