Pics: Umesh Marpalli

News: Pareekshith Shet

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 15: At a time people are struggling to get clean drinking water, a gram panchayat near here has exemplified its irresponsibility by arranging river water to flow into the well! This weird incident is on display at Akuduru village within Moodubelle gram panchayat near here.

Gerald Fernandes, who was a zilla panchayat member in the previous term, had bought ten cents of land from Ganesh Patkar for digging a well for the use of general public. This was in 2010-11 and it is said that even after five years, the purchase consideration of theland in question remains unpaid. At the same time, this well looks like its protective wall might crumble anytime now. At the same time, Moodubelle gram panchayat has made arrangements to divert water from Ankudru rivulet that flows by the side of the well to the well, thus contaminating it with dirty water of the rivulet. The panchayat has been pumping this dirty water without any purification process to houses within the panchayat limits.

Ganesh, Patkar, son of Leelavathi, who had given the land for the well, has fitted a pump set to this well. It is gathered that power connection has been given to this pump set illegally. The electricity supply company also became a partner in this murky affair by providing a meter that was to be fitted elsewhere.

Now, the panchayat has served notice on the electricity supply company to remove its electricity meter, and on Ganesh, instructing him to severe power connection. Ganesh is demanding that the panchayat, which bought the land, should pay for the land forthwith.

The panchayat is guilty of spoiling a well that was intended to provide drinking water to people. Rakshana Vedike has demanded for providing clean drinking water for the citizens living within the panchayat limits here.