Silvester D' Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 9: The tribals of Soni village had requested the irrigation department to build a bridge when Varahi canal was constructed across the road in Dyanooru in 2008-10, but to no avail.

A 3-feet wide cement drain is constructed for the flow of water from forests and hills between Soni and Karebail junction at Dyanooru. As the water continuously flows through it, it gets covered with moss and making the place slippery. The locals, however, have been walking on the grove of the canal to come to nearby Karebail disregarding the risk involved.

The tribals in Soni village have to walk five kilometres to go to Badabalu on Siddapur - Amparu road or to Shankaranarayana.

Siddapur zilla panchayat member, Halady Taranatha Shetty says that he will write to the minister of irrigation to construct a bridge above the canal at the nearby place called 13 km milestone. He also said that he will communicate with the chief engineer of Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Limited, Siddapur office.

Water flows down the drain in the monsoons and the place becomes slippery with moss. Therefore people have to walk on the one-foot-wide grove of the canal in risky conditions. School children also face severe hardship. Besides, people carry vegetables and other items walking on it.

Ananda Naika, a resident laments that Varahi canal has cut their communication from Soni to Karebail. “The people representatives come only during elections,” he says.