Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jan 12: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Thursday, January 11 inspected the sewage treatment plant at Kudipady in Suratkal and underground drainage (UGD) works in Mangaluru city.

It was found that the residents of Kudipady and Shantigudda have been in miserable condition after the re-circulated water was left in open drainage giving rise to foul smell and polluting the well water. The sewage water of Suratkal, Chitrapura and other places is being recirculated in aeration tank in the STP and the treated water is being left alone in the open drainage.

Unused wet well at Padil and Jalligudde

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel also visited the wet well which has remained unused at Padil and Jalligudde. It is said that the wet well at Padil has not been functioning since its completion in the year 2008 and work is half done. Even the wet wells at Faisalnagar and Jalligudde have remained unused for long. Only the sewage of Kadekar is being pumped time to time at STP located at Bajal.

Speaking to the media persons, Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "Under the ADB (Asian Development Bank) funded project nearly Rs 218 crore has been sanctioned for the UGD systems in the first phase through KUDCEMP, but before the completion it was handed over to the MCC in 2014, since then the work on the UGD has slowed down.

"It may be noticed that the wet wells in Padil, Faisalnagar and Jalligudde have remained unused for long. Through the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme Rs 25 crore has been sanctioned for Mangaluru South and Rs 30 crore for Mangaluru North, and the second phase funding is on the verge of getting sanctioned. Today we can find that work has not progressed ever since the KUDCEMP handed it over to MCC in the year 2014. I will not allow funding under AMRUT scheme to get wasted away like this. There is a need for enquiry through Lokayukta. I will soon push for Lokayutha probe into the issue," he said.

Corporator Roopa D Bangera, Ganesh Hosabettu, Premananda Shetty, Bharath Y Shetty, Monappa Bhandary, Vedavyas Kamath, Rajesh Konchady and others were present.