Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)

Mangaluru, May 30: A bylane located next to St Theresa's School, Bendore was damaged after a water pipeline burst while installing cables with the help of directional boring machine here on Saturday May 30. The work was being undertaken by Reliance company.

Gerald Towers, a resident of Bendore complained that the Reliance workers damaged the water pipeline at around 9:30 pm on Friday May 29 and that they had left the spot without repairing or bringing the matter to the notice of the Mangaluru City Corporation.

"All night until this morning till around 8 am, the water has been flowing and due to this the the interlocks are sunk in and the sand has completely washed away on to the roads," Gerald said.

"From Monday schools are re-opening and this bylane is the only one way to reach the school entrance. It is a big risk for kids to walk on this road. Children would not know that the interlocks are sinking and it might pose danger to their lives. The re-arranging of the interlocks may take more than a week," he said.

He also said that he has given an oral complaint with the Kadri police station and added that if the Reliance workers fail to remove the stones and the sand on the road, he would give a written complaint to the police station.

The road which was re-laid just a month ago has been damaged and the locals are complained that the area corporator Sabitha Misquith has not been responding to their needs. Commuters were seen struggling to manoeuvre their vehicles.

MLA J R Lobo visited the spot and after inspecting the damage caused by the Reliance workers, said that he has brought the issue to the notice of the MCC commissioner Hephsiba Korlapati and asked her to take action against Reliance.

It is also alleged that Reliance has not sought permission from the MCC for the installation of underground cables. J R Lobo has said that he has asked MCC commissioner not to allow Reliance to dig anywhere else till the existing issue is resolved.

Engineer Arun visited the spot and said that the clamp of the water pipeline has been damaged and informed that it could be replaced.

Meanwhile, Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (MESCOM) workers also came to the spot and told the workers hired by Reliance company not to touch the electrical cables passing through the same spot.